Boy name · Latin
Leonel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: little lionLeonel is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "little lion". It is used in Spanish.
- Meaning
- Little lion
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- leh-oh-NEL (Spanish)
Meaning and origin of Leonel
As a boy's name, Leonel comes from Latin and means "little lion". It is used in Spanish.
In Spanish, say leh-oh-NEL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Leonel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Leonel on 1 list.
“Little lion; Latin. Spanish form of Lionel. Say leh-oh-NEL”
From Hispanic boy names, classic Hispanic male names
How popular is Leonel?
- US rank in 2025
- #350
- 942 babies, 551 per million boys
- Best rank
- #308 in 2023
- Most babies: 1,084 in 2024
- Babies since 1910
- At least 27,067
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 20 per million |
| 1920s | 24 per million |
| 1930s | 31 per million |
| 1940s | 26 per million |
| 1950s | 24 per million |
| 1960s | 33 per million |
| 1970s | 66 per million |
| 1980s | 102 per million |
| 1990s | 164 per million |
| 2000s | 257 per million |
| 2010s | 405 per million |
| 2020s | 572 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #373 | #365 | #358 | #346 | #345 | #375 | #327 | #308 | #317 | #350 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Leonel
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Leonel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LemuelBelonging to God (Hebrew, boy)
- LeonidSon of the lion (Greek, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- LeoA lion (Latin, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- ArielLion of God (Hebrew, boy)
- HaiderLion (Arabic, boy)
- AriA lion (Hebrew, boy)
- AriellaLion of God (Hebrew, girl)
- ArielleLion of God (Hebrew, girl)
- LeanderLion man (Greek, boy)
- LennartBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- LeonidasSon of the lion (Greek, boy)
- SherLion (Persian, boy)
- AlparslanBrave lion (Turkish, boy)
- AryehLion (Hebrew, boy)
- AsadLion (Arabic, boy)
Middle names for Leonel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarcoOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcusOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- PaulSmall, humble (Latin, boy)
- VictorThe conqueror (Latin, boy)
- VincentConquering one (Latin, boy)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- ClemensMerciful (Latin, boy)
- ConstantineConstant, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- EmilianoRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
Leonel: common questions
What does the name Leonel mean?
Leonel comes from Latin and means "little lion".
Is Leonel a boy or girl name?
Leonel is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Leonel come from?
Leonel comes from Latin and means "little lion". Today it is used in Spanish.
How do you pronounce Leonel?
In Spanish, say leh-oh-NEL. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Leonel?
Leonel ranked #350 in the US in 2025, with 942 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Leonel?
Forms of Leonel with the same meaning and origin include León (Spanish), Leone (Italian) and Lionel (English).
What middle names go with Leonel?
Middle names that flow well with Leonel include Cedar, Clark, Eli, Ezra and Heath. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.