Boy names that start with L
These 170 L boy names run from Laban to Lysandros, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Liam, Lucas and Levi.
From Lochlann, land of the Norsemen (Scottish Gaelic). No. 606 in the US in 2025, 468 babies.
BoyScottish
Lisakhanya
Still shining (Xhosa)
UnisexAfrican
Lwandle
Ocean (Zulu)
UnisexAfrican
Lochlainn
Viking, Scandinavian (Irish Gaelic). No. 10,277 in the US in 2025, 7 babies.
BoyIrish
Lysandros
Liberator of men (Greek)
BoyGreek
Light (Latin). No. 1,168 in the US in 2025, 235 babies. Given to both: 25% girls.
UnisexEnglishRising
Lin
Forest; fine jade (depends on characters) (Chinese). No. 12,636 in the US in 2025, 7 babies.
UnisexChinese
Leofric
Beloved ruler (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Louis-Philippe
Famous warrior, plus lover of horses (Germanic and Greek)
BoyFrench
Leofwine
Dear friend (Old English)
BoyEnglish
Tip: lock the names you like, then generate again.Open the full baby name generator →
Most popular boy names starting with L in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Liam | 20,818 | Rising | short for William, will helmet |
| #10 | Lucas | 10,219 | Steady | man from Lucania |
| #12 | Levi | 9,642 | Rising | joined, attached |
| #14 | Luca | 8,759 | Rising | man from Lucania |
| #19 | Leo | 8,173 | Rising | a lion |
| #33 | Luke | 6,948 | Steady | man from Lucania |
| #53 | Logan | 5,576 | Falling | little hollow |
| #69 | Lincoln | 4,703 | Steady | lake colony |
| #85 | Luka | 3,873 | Rising | form of Lucas, probably from Lucania |
| #91 | Leonardo | 3,789 | Steady | brave lion |
| #117 | Lorenzo | 3,065 | Rising | man from Laurentum |
| #127 | Landon | 2,840 | Falling | long hill |
| #138 | Leon | 2,583 | Rising | a lion |
| #144 | Luis | 2,475 | Steady | famous warrior |
| #193 | Legend | 1,862 | Rising | from the English word legend |
| #249 | Louis | 1,391 | Steady | famous warrior |
| #250 | Lane | 1,383 | Steady | a narrow path |
| #288 | Lukas | 1,161 | Steady | man from Lucania |
| #289 | Lennox | 1,160 | Rising | from the Lennox district |
| #305 | Luciano | 1,118 | Rising | light, brightness |
| #350 | Leonel | 942 | Steady | little lion |
| #381 | Lawson | 830 | Steady | – |
| #406 | Leandro | 785 | Rising | lion man |
| #425 | Lucca | 757 | Steady | – |
| #428 | Lian | 752 | Rising | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
L names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with L, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 7.5%
- Place among 26 letters
- 3rd
- Different L names
- 500
- In the top 1,000
- 49
Share of boys with an L name: 5.0% in 1950, 3.0% in 2000, and 7.5% in 2025.
L boy names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Leoa lion (Latin)
- Lucasman from Lucania (Greek)
- Leona lion (Greek)
- Liamshort for William, will helmet (Germanic)
- Lambertbright land (Germanic)
- Leonardobrave lion (Germanic)
- Lucaman from Lucania (Greek)
- Leopoldbold people (Germanic)
- Levijoined, attached (Hebrew)
- Linusflax plant (Greek)
- Louisfamous warrior (Germanic)
- Lucianolight, brightness (Latin)
- Lachlanfrom Lochlann, land of the Norsemen (Scottish Gaelic)
- Larsman from Laurentum (Latin)
- Leanderlion man (Greek)
- Lennartbrave lion (Germanic)
- Lennonlover, sweetheart (Irish Gaelic)
- Lennoxfrom the Lennox district (Scottish place name)
Where these names come from
- Germanic: 32
- Latin: 26
- Greek: 26
- Hebrew: 13
- Old English: 10
- Irish Gaelic: 9
- English: 5
- Scottish Gaelic: 4
All 170 boy names that start with L
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laban | white | Hebrew | Boy |
| Labhrann | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Labhrás | from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Lachie | from Lochlann, land of the Norsemen | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lachlan | from Lochlann, land of the Norsemen | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lachtna | milk-colored | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lakshman | having lucky marks | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Lalo | pet form of Eduardo | Spanish | Boy |
| Lamar | the pool | Old French | Boy |
| Lambert | bright land | Germanic | Boy |
| Lamberto | bright land | Germanic | Boy |
| Lampros | bright, shining | Greek | Boy |
| Lanakila | victory, triumph | Hawaiian | Boy |
| Lance | land | Germanic | Boy |
| Landon | long hill | Old English | Boy |
| Lane | a narrow path | English | Unisex |
| Lane | narrow road | English | Boy |
| Langa | the sun | Zulu | Boy |
| Langston | long stone | Old English | Boy |
| Laoghaire | calf herder | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lars | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Laurence | from Laurentum, a Roman town | Latin | Boy |
| Laurens | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Laurent | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Laurie | pet form of Laura or Laurence, linked to laurel | Latin | Unisex |
| Lautaro | swift hawk | Mapudungun | Boy |
| Lavi | lion | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lawrence | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Layth | lion | Arabic | Boy |
| Lazare | God has helped | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lázaro | God has helped | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lazarus | God has helped | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lazzaro | God has helped | Hebrew | Boy |
| Leander | lion man | Greek | Boy |
| Léandre | lion man | Greek | Boy |
| Leandro | lion man | Greek | Boy |
| Leandros | lion man | Greek | Boy |
| Leberecht | live rightly | German | Boy |
| Lee | clearing, meadow | Old English | Unisex |
| Lefteris | free | Greek | Boy |
| Legend | from the English word legend | English | Boy |
| Lei | thunder (depends on characters) | Chinese | Boy |
| Leib | lion | Yiddish | Boy |
| Leif | heir, descendant | Old Norse | Boy |
| Leighton | town with a leek garden | Old English | Unisex |
| Leland | fallow land | Old English | Boy |
| Lello | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lemuel | belonging to God | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lencho | pet form of Lorenzo | Spanish | Boy |
| Lennart | brave lion | Germanic | Boy |
| Lennon | lover, sweetheart | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Lennox | from the Lennox district | Scottish place name | Unisex |
| Lenny | brave lion | Germanic | Boy |
| Leo | a lion | Latin | Boy |
| Léo | a lion | Latin | Boy |
| Leofric | beloved ruler | Old English | Boy |
| Leofwine | dear friend | Old English | Boy |
| Leon | a lion | Greek | Boy |
| León | lion | Latin | Boy |
| Léon | a lion | Greek | Boy |
| Leonard | brave lion | Germanic | Boy |
| Leonardo | brave lion | Germanic | Boy |
| Leoncio | lion | Greek | Boy |
| Leone | a lion | Latin | Boy |
| Leonel | little lion | Latin | Boy |
| Leonhard | brave lion | Germanic | Boy |
| Leonid | son of the lion | Greek | Boy |
| Leonidas | son of the lion | Greek | Boy |
| Leopold | bold people | Germanic | Boy |
| Léopold | bold people | Germanic | Boy |
| Leopoldo | bold people | Germanic | Boy |
| Lerato | love, affection | Sotho | Unisex |
| Leroy | the king | Old French | Boy |
| Lesedi | light | Tswana | Unisex |
| Lev | lion, in Russian | Russian | Boy |
| Levent | tall and handsome; an Ottoman marine | Turkish | Boy |
| Levi | joined, attached | Hebrew | Boy |
| Lewis | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Liam | short for William, will helmet | Germanic | Boy |
| Liang | bright; good (depends on characters) | Chinese | Boy |
| Lieber | love | Yiddish | Boy |
| Liel | my God | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Lihuén | morning | Mapudungun | Unisex |
| Liko | a leaf bud | Hawaiian | Boy |
| Lin | forest; fine jade (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Lincoln | lake colony | English | Boy |
| Linden | lime tree | Old English | Unisex |
| Lindsay | Lincoln island | Old English | Unisex |
| Linos | flax | Greek | Boy |
| Linus | flax plant | Greek | Boy |
| Lionel | little lion | Latin | Boy |
| Lior | my light | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Lippo | lover of horses | Greek | Boy |
| Lir | the sea | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Liraz | my secret | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Liron | my song, my joy | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Lisakhanya | still shining | Xhosa | Unisex |
| Lisandro | liberator | Greek | Boy |
| Lloyd | grey | Welsh | Boy |
| Llŷr | the sea | Welsh | Boy |
| Lochlainn | Viking, Scandinavian | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lochlan | Viking, Scandinavian | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lodewijk | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Logan | little hollow | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Logan | little hollow | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Logi | flame, fire | Old Norse | Boy |
| Loïc | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Lōkahi | unity, harmony | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Lonán | little blackbird | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Long | dragon (depends on characters) | Chinese | Boy |
| Lopaka | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Lope | wolf | Latin | Boy |
| Lorcan | little fierce one | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lorcán | little fierce one | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Lorenz | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Lorenzo | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Lorne | from Lorn in Argyll | Scottish place name | Boy |
| Lotfy | kind, gentle | Arabic | Boy |
| Lothar | famous army | Germanic | Boy |
| Lou | famous warrior | Germanic | Unisex |
| Louie | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Louis | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Louis-Philippe | famous warrior, plus lover of horses | Germanic and Greek | Boy |
| Loukas | man from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Loup | wolf | Latin | Boy |
| Lourenço | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Lovemore | love more | English | Boy |
| Lowell | little wolf | Old French | Boy |
| Lubanzi | it is wide, from a phrase meaning love is wide | Xhosa | Unisex |
| Lubomir | love and peace | Slavic | Boy |
| Luca | man from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Lucas | man from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Lucero | bright star, morning star | Spanish | Unisex |
| Lucho | pet form of Luis | Spanish | Boy |
| Lucian | light | Latin | Boy |
| Luciano | light, brightness | Latin | Boy |
| Lucien | light, brightness | Latin | Boy |
| Lucio | light | Latin | Boy |
| Lucius | light | Latin | Boy |
| Ludovic | French form of Ludwig, famous in battle | Germanic | Boy |
| Ludovico | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Ludvig | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Ludwig | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Ludwik | famous in battle | Germanic | Boy |
| Luigi | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Luis | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Luís | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Luis Alberto | famous warrior, noble and bright | Germanic | Boy |
| Luis Ángel | famous warrior, messenger | Germanic and Greek | Boy |
| Luis Fernando | famous warrior, brave journey | Germanic | Boy |
| Luis Miguel | famous warrior, who is like God? | Germanic and Hebrew | Boy |
| Luiz | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Luka | form of Lucas, probably from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Lukas | man from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Luke | man from Lucania | Greek | Boy |
| Lupo | wolf | Latin | Boy |
| Luthando | it is love | Xhosa | Unisex |
| Lutz | famous warrior | Germanic | Boy |
| Lux | light | Latin | Unisex |
| Lwandle | ocean | Zulu | Unisex |
| Lwazi | knowledge | Zulu | Boy |
| Lykos | wolf | Greek | Boy |
| Lyle | island | Old French | Boy |
| Lyndon | linden tree hill | Old English | Boy |
| Lynn | lake | Welsh | Unisex |
| Lyosha | short form of Alexei, defender | Greek | Boy |
| Lyova | short form of Lev, lion | Russian | Boy |
| Lyric | of the lyre | Greek | Unisex |
| Lysander | liberator | Greek | Boy |
| Lysandros | liberator of men | Greek | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular boy names that start with L?
The most popular boy names starting with L in the US are Liam (#1), Lucas (#10), Levi (#12), Luca (#14), Leo (#19), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many boy names start with L?
In 2025, 500 different boy names starting with L were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 49 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 170 with their meaning and origin.
How common are boy names that start with L?
7.5% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with L, making it the 3rd most common first letter. In 1950 it was 5.0%.
Where do boy names starting with L come from?
The most common origins on this list are Germanic (32), Latin (26), Greek (26).