Leonel
Boy name · American · English · Greek · Spanish
Meaninglittle lion · Spanish form of Lionel
- US rank
- #350
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #308 in 2023
942 babies were named Leonel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 5 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1910–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Leonel you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Leonel
Leonel Sánchez
Chilean footballer
Choose Leonel and your child shares a first name with Leonel Sánchez, a Chilean footballer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Leonel, like who?” Leonel Sánchez's Wikipedia article is available in 40 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Leonel Sánchez on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Revista Argentina "Mundo Deportivo", Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,813 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Leonel, 942 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Leonel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLeonel first shows up in US birth records in 1910, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 115 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2023, when it reached #308.
- Then vs nowLeonel is 2.6× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 4,643 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 1,813.
- Where it's lovedLeonel is most popular in Arizona, where it ranks #151, followed by Texas (#155) and Delaware (#168). It's in the top 1,000 in 31 states.
- MeaningLeonel is a Spanish form of Lionel, which means “little lion”. Our records link it to American, English and Greek roots.
About the name Leonel
Leonel is a boy name of American, English and Greek origin meaning “little lion”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-nel”. US birth records list Leonel for boys from 1910 to 2025, in 115 of those 116 years. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked #308 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #350, with 942 babies.
Origin:American namesEnglish namesGreek namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 20 | 50,378 boys |
| 1920s | 24 | 41,391 boys |
| 1930s | 31 | 32,690 boys |
| 1940s | 26 | 38,300 boys |
| 1950s | 24 | 42,481 boys |
| 1960s | 33 | 30,075 boys |
| 1970s | 66 | 15,175 boys |
| 1980s | 102 | 9,827 boys |
| 1990s | 164 | 6,093 boys |
| 2000s | 257 | 3,892 boys |
| 2010s | 407 | 2,459 boys |
| 2020s | 572 | 1,747 boys |
Other spellings of Leonel
More American boy names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Jace · healer
- Boy name: Jaxon · son of Jack
- Boy name: Milo · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Louis · famous warrior
Questions about the name Leonel
What does the name Leonel mean?
Leonel means “little lion” in Spanish, as a form of Lionel.
What is the origin of the name Leonel?
Leonel has American, English, Greek, Spanish roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Maverick, Kai.
Is Leonel a boy or girl name?
Leonel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Leonel?
Leonel ranked #350 for US boys in 2025, given to 942 babies. Its best year was 2023 (#308).