Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Lion
Across 4 pages
of 4
Lionel
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.
Leontine
French female form of Leontios, Greek
"lion"
Leontine is the French form of a name that's more familiar by its spelling variation Leontyne, the name made famous by opera diva Price. An obscure choice, Leontine nevertheless feels right for our…
Leocadia
Spanish
"splendid brightness"
Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending. St. Leocadia was an early martyred Spanish saint, and "La Leocadia" is a famous Goya painting of Leocadia…
Rasalas
Arabic
"the northern (star) of the lion's head"
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…
Alparslan
Turkish
"heroic lion"
Alparslan is a combination of the Turkish words alp , meaning "hero," and arslan , "lion." The name is a reference to Alp Arslan, the title given to 11th-century Seljuk sultan Muhammad bin Dawud…
Sundiata
Mandinka/Malinke, West African
"Sogolon's lion, lion king, lion prince"
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…
Sundjata
Variation of Sundiata, Mandinka/Malinke, West African
"Sogolon's lion, lion king, lion prince"
An alternative form of the bright, leonine name Sundiata, Sundjata is associated with Sundiata Keita, the 13th century founder and prince of the Mali Empire in Western Africa. He is remembered and…
Lavie
Spelling variation of Lavi, Hebrew, Finnish
"lion; ancestor's relic"
An alternative spelling to the name Lavi, which can be used as a short form of the Finnish Olavi, itself a variation of Olaf, or as a stand-alone Hebrew name, meaning "lion". The traditional Lavi…
Alisher
Persian; Turkish; Kazakh; Uzbek
"lofty, sublime + lion; brave prince"
A name of Persian, Turkish, Kazakh, and Uzbek origin, Alisher can be considered a compound name, blending the popular Arabic name Ali with the Persian shir meaning "sublime lion", or a purely Persian…
Lyonesse
Arthurian legend
"lioness"
A poetic and bold choice, this name derives from the Middle English word for lioness and appears in Arthurian Legend. She features in Thomas Malory's 15th-century tale Le Morte d'Arthur in which she…
Leoluca
Italian, combination of Leone and Luca
"lion + man from Lucania"
The name Leoluca is a combination of the Italian names Leone, meaning "lion", and Luca, meaning "man from Lucania". This was the name of a 9th century Sicilian saint.
Leolin
Welsh
"leader's image"
A rare form of Llywellyn/Llewellyn, influenced by Latin Leo "lion".
Yariel
Variation of Ariel, Spanish, Hebrew
"lion of God"
Names ending in -iel are very much in for boys at the moment and Yariel is another to consider. Likely deriving from Ariel, it gets you the same lion-inspired meaning without such a close tie to…
Leonato
Shakespearean name, form of Leonnatos, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek
"lion's jaw"
Leonato is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing , the noble governor of Messina on whose property most of the play takes place. His daughter Hero and his niece Beatrice…
Hafsah
Arabic
"young lioness"
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…
Tau
Indigenous Australian or Tswana, Sotho
"dusk, twilight; lion"
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…
Arie
Variation of Ari
"lion of God"
This spelling variation of trending unisex Ari — both diminutives of Hebrew Ariel — means "lion of God".
Leodore
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…
Ceylon
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."
Sarabi
African, Swahili
"mirage"
Lovely African name that you may recognize from The Lion King .