Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Oromo
"lion"
Fierce choice from the Oromo culture of Ethiopia.
English, combination of Leo and Theodore
"gift of god + lion"
Popular Leo meets popular Theodore in this seamless compound name, that could be interpreted as meaning "lion's gift" or "god gifted lion". Borne by a character in the 2016 movie, Zootopia , it has…
Walloon, from French
Leyon is an alternate spelling of the French Léon used in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium.
Place name, English from Portuguese and Sanskrit
"lionlike"
Lovely, international, tea-scented possibility undiscovered by baby names. Ceylon may ultimately be derived from the Sanskrit siṃhala , meaning "island of lions" or "abundance of lions."
Greek
The ancient Leontios, the name of several early saints and a Byzantine empire, may rise again with the pride of lion names so fashionable in Europe, from Leo to Leon to Leonie. The Latinized version…
Welsh, 'leader's image'
This is the original form of the ancient name also spelled Llewelyn. In ancient Wales, it was borne by two princes who for a time united their countrymen in North Wales and led opposition to the…
German
This variation of the surname Loeb works even better than the original as a first name, though any child named Loew will inevitably have to endure a lifetime's worth of "high and...." jokes. Other…
English and German surname name
"low or lion"
Loewe is one spelling of a surname name rooted in many European cultures and languages, from English to German to French. Variations include Lowe and Loeb, and the meaning might relate to low or…
Arabic
"friend, companion, gentle, kind"
Confident Middle Eastern choice. Children will relate to the Rafiki form via the wise guru in Disney's "The Lion King."
Feminine variation of Slavic "Ruslan," from the Turkic/Persian word for "Lion"
"Lion"
Singer Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko, who goes by her first name, won the Eurovision contest in 2004 and remains a popular artist in Ukraine.
"lion honor"
This ancient name, belonging to a 4th century BCE Greek statesman and general, would be one of those unique baby names with lots of more down-to-earth nickname potential, including Tim and Leon.…
Modern invented name
The etymology of Leontel is unclear, though it could be seen as a variation of Lionel. It has rarely been used anywhere, though it does have more French connections than anything. While the nickname…
Diminutive of Gwenllian, Welsh
"white, flaxen"
While it may look like a variation of popular Leo, Llio is in fact a Welsh name, derived from Gwenllian, the medieval name of a legendary princess who is a national heroine in Wales. Given to a small…
French
"young lion"
Lionel is yet another traditional boy's name entering the girls' column--at least once-- via prizewinning novelist Lionel (born Margaret Ann) Shriver.