Names That Mean Lion

In the US this is likely to conjure zebras, lions and elephants on the Serengeti, but its original meaning "journey" broadens its wearability. Safari is a name common in Africa for babies born while their parents were on a journey.

The y makes it seem more like a name and less like an animal, but it's still not as appealing as several Leo choices.

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 Leon might seem a little dated, Leo is right on trend.

Aryeh, which can also be spelled Arye or Arieh, is a Biblical name sometimes heard in modern Israel. In the US, this is the most popular spelling by far, given to 100 boys last year. But the girls' form Ariyah is much more popular than that, given to nearly 500 baby girls.

A rare form of Llywellyn/Llewellyn, influenced by Latin Leo "lion".

Lovely, international, tea-scented possibility undiscovered by baby names.

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 short (thought to be used for a tall person!) as well as to lion and even hill.

Known for being the name of Simba's father in the Lion King.

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.

Lovely African name that you may recognize from The Lion King.

Leodore is a modern English combination of Leo, meaning "lion", and Theodore, meaning "gift of god".

Tau, rhyming with cow, is a simple straightforward name with roots in two languages and cultures, the Kaurna language spoken by indigenous Australian people or the African Tswana language, a Bantu language spoken by five million people.

A grand, bright, and powerful feeling name, Sundiata was notably borne by Sundiata Keita, the 13th century founder and prince of the Mali Empire in Western Africa. He is remembered and celebrated in the Epic of Sundiata which is still taught today.

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 handful of girls most years in Wales — three in a recent count — the double L sound is hard to translate into English because it is specifically Welsh.

A powerful, storied name, used by countless significant figures throughout history in Central and South Asia, whose appeal in the U.S. may be limited by its near-homonymy with the word "sure."

Confident Middle Eastern choice. Children will relate to the Rafiki form via the wise guru in Disney's "The Lion King."

Sounding like a cross between Nancy and Natalie, Nantale might have potential as same-but-different African-to-American crossover.

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 leonine options: Leopold or Lionel.

The dramatic-sounding name of a star in the constellation Leo that can be adapted as a unique Arabic name for boys. The similar-sounding Rasselas is the name of an allegorical fable by Samuel Johnson and its lead character.

When considering the playground years, might be too close to gory.