Names That Mean Lioness

A strong, grounded choice that still has plenty of energy and charm, Leona is the feminine form of Leon, itself derived from the Greek word for "lion". Associated with courage, leadership, and royalty — and the star sign of July and August — Leona is popular in Croatia and Sweden, but familiar across the US, the UK, and continental Europe.

With the rise of many once-dated leonine names, from Leona to Lionel to Leonora, Leandra is an unusual choice that might be looking at a comeback..

With male version Leon taking off all over Europe, the female variations, from Leona to Leonie to Leone, are coming back into style too.

Leonora meets Theodora — this striking alternative to popular Leo names has heaps of potential, and loads of attractive nickname options.

Concise but versatile, Hafsah is a popular name for girls among Muslims. Also spelled Hafsa, it is a significant name in Islamic tradition, having been borne by the daughter of Umar, the second caliph, who was also the fourth wife of the prophet Muhammad.