Meaning: Little lion, through Léon
The story
Lionel is a French diminutive of Léon. It appears in medieval Arthurian literature and has spread well beyond French-speaking communities.
Nicknames
- Leo
- Lio
Spellings & variants
- Leonel
- Lionello
Popularity
Familiar
In the US top 1,000 — familiar, not everywhere.
Lower in the latest US rankings
Style
Origins
Lionel comes from French.
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