Lyonel
Meaninglittle lion · French form of Lionel
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #3,549 in 1936
5 babies were named Lyonel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 1,403 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1925–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Lyonel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Lyonel, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Lyonel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLyonel first shows up in US birth records in 1925, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 100 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1936, when it ranked #3,549. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendLyonel has slipped 1,403 places over the last five years and now sits at #12,008. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningLyonel is a French form of Lionel, which means “little lion”.
About the name Lyonel
Lyonel is a boy name of French origin meaning “little lion”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-nel”. US birth records list Lyonel for boys from 1925 to 2025, in 37 of those 101 years. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked #3,549 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:French names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1.1 | 925,926 boys |
| 1930s | 0.5 | 2,083,333 boys |
| 1960s | 0.9 | 1,149,425 boys |
| 1970s | 1.4 | 704,225 boys |
| 1980s | 3.3 | 304,878 boys |
| 1990s | 0.7 | 1,538,462 boys |
| 2000s | 1.1 | 917,431 boys |
| 2010s | 3.8 | 263,852 boys |
| 2020s | 3.9 | 253,165 boys |
Other spellings of Lyonel
More French boy names
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Daniel · God is my judge
- Unisex name: Gabriel · God is my strength
- Unisex name: Wyatt · brave in war
- Boy name: Charles · free man
- Unisex name: Beau · handsome
- Boy name: Robert · bright fame
Questions about the name Lyonel
What does the name Lyonel mean?
Lyonel means “little lion” in French, as a form of Lionel.
What is the origin of the name Lyonel?
Lyonel has French roots in our records. Other French names include Sebastian, Leo, Daniel.
Is Lyonel a boy or girl name?
Lyonel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Lyonel?
Lyonel ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1936 (#3,549).