Lionel - A very unique male name
Lionel at a glance
Lionel is ranked #672 among boy baby names in 2025, with 367 births in 2025. It peaked in 1933 at #308 and first appeared on the charts in 1911.
- Rank in 2025
- #672
- Births in 2025
- 367
- Peak year
- 1933 (#308)
- First appeared
- 1911
- Trend
- #669 in 2020 → #672 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 3,995 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.8/5 (4 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 3,995 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Lionel peaked in popularity 93 years ago in 1933 on position 308.
Famous with this name
Lionel Richie
Lionel Boyce
Lionel Atwill
How would you rate Lionel, 1-5?
Lionel is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Lionel is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #381 - and is the least popular in Tennessee at position #1,129.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Lionel is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Lionel origin and meaning
Latin and French, diminutive of Leo
A French diminutive of Leon/Leo, from Latin leo, 'lion' — 'little lion'
Lionel is the lion name in its French, Arthurian form — Sir Lionel was a Knight of the Round Table. Long a modest classic, it spiked to a 2023 peak on Lionel Messi's World Cup win and has since eased slightly.
Attested etymology
Lionel is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Lionel, pop culture references for the name Lionel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Lionel
We've found the following names that sound similar to Lionel, sorted by popularity.
Leonel / Lemuel / Lionell / Lonnell / Lamel / Lenell / Lynell / Lonell /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 672 |
| 2024 | 566 |
| 2023 | 505 |
| 2022 | 624 |
| 2021 | 682 |
| 2020 | 669 |
| 2019 | 653 |
| 2018 | 637 |
| 2017 | 601 |
| 2016 | 578 |
| 2015 | 655 |
| 2014 | 680 |
| 2013 | 769 |
| 2012 | 809 |
| 2011 | 799 |
| 2010 | 888 |
| 2009 | 1118 |
| 2008 | 1152 |
| 2007 | 1164 |
| 2006 | 1191 |
| 2005 | 1099 |
| 2004 | 1273 |
| 2003 | 1195 |
| 2002 | 1114 |
| 2001 | 993 |
| 2000 | 1063 |
| 1999 | 1010 |
| 1998 | 946 |
| 1997 | 1122 |
| 1996 | 975 |
| 1995 | 833 |
| 1994 | 826 |
| 1993 | 757 |
| 1992 | 768 |
| 1991 | 712 |
| 1990 | 650 |
| 1989 | 588 |
| 1988 | 596 |
| 1987 | 505 |
| 1986 | 479 |
| 1985 | 425 |
| 1984 | 383 |
| 1983 | 387 |
| 1982 | 458 |
| 1981 | 486 |
| 1980 | 485 |
| 1979 | 543 |
| 1978 | 514 |
| 1977 | 545 |
| 1976 | 500 |
| 1975 | 514 |
| 1974 | 556 |
| 1973 | 504 |
| 1972 | 537 |
| 1971 | 520 |
| 1970 | 526 |
| 1969 | 469 |
| 1968 | 485 |
| 1967 | 457 |
| 1966 | 450 |
| 1965 | 453 |
| 1964 | 425 |
| 1963 | 405 |
| 1962 | 404 |
| 1961 | 392 |
| 1960 | 366 |
| 1959 | 397 |
| 1958 | 420 |
| 1957 | 432 |
| 1956 | 368 |
| 1955 | 410 |
| 1954 | 376 |
| 1953 | 352 |
| 1952 | 371 |
| 1951 | 380 |
| 1950 | 354 |
| 1949 | 379 |
| 1948 | 371 |
| 1947 | 373 |
| 1946 | 362 |
| 1945 | 344 |
| 1944 | 347 |
| 1943 | 373 |
| 1942 | 378 |
| 1941 | 350 |
| 1940 | 363 |
| 1939 | 348 |
| 1938 | 337 |
| 1937 | 358 |
| 1936 | 339 |
| 1935 | 338 |
| 1934 | 310 |
| 1933 | 308 |
| 1932 | 318 |
| 1931 | 333 |
| 1930 | 352 |
| 1929 | 360 |
| 1928 | 335 |
| 1927 | 346 |
| 1926 | 340 |
| 1925 | 348 |
| 1924 | 334 |
| 1923 | 330 |
| 1922 | 361 |
| 1921 | 338 |
| 1920 | 372 |
| 1919 | 364 |
| 1918 | 381 |
| 1917 | 353 |
| 1916 | 399 |
| 1915 | 373 |
| 1914 | 371 |
| 1913 | 379 |
| 1912 | 369 |
| 1911 | 316 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| California | 381 |
| Oregon | 425 |
| Illinois | 455 |
| New Jersey | 478 |
| Nevada | 490 |
| Arizona | 513 |
| Utah | 537 |
| Texas | 537 |
| Maryland | 545 |
| Massachusetts | 594 |
| Kansas | 662 |
| North Carolina | 667 |
| Colorado | 728 |
| Indiana | 751 |
| Washington | 773 |
| Michigan | 809 |
| Alabama | 836 |
| New York | 872 |
| Pennsylvania | 891 |
| Florida | 903 |
| Georgia | 959 |
| Virginia | 1041 |
| Ohio | 1081 |
| Tennessee | 1129 |
Even more about Lionel
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Lionel a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Lionel?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
LY-uh-nel · /ˈlaɪənɛl/
The data lists two syllables; most speakers use three (LY-uh-nel), and Spanish-influenced use is lee-oh-NEL.
Around the world
- Leonel (Spanish) — The Spanish form of the same name
- Lionello (Italian) — An Italian form of the same name
Spellings and nicknames
Nicknames: Leo
Famous bearers
- Lionel Messi — Argentine footballer, widely regarded as the greatest player of his era (b. 1987) Contemporary
- Lionel Richie — Singer, from The Commodores to a solo career of ballads (b. 1949) Contemporary
Style
InternationalClassicLiterary
Why parents choose it
Lionel now reads as Messi's name first — sporty and global — with a vintage, gentlemanly undertone for parents who like older classics.
Worth knowing
- Messi's fame is so large that the association will come up constantly
