106 Fierce Names That Mean Lion - Page 5

This form got noticed as the first name of long-reigning Russian president Brezhnev; other bearers include playwright and short-story writer Andreyev, Leonid the Magnificent,a Russian performance artist on America's Got Talent, and Leonid McGill, the protagonist of a Walter Mosley private eye series. All in all, though, Leonid is not the most likely to join the pride of lion-related names here.

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.

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.

Looks unusual and a little on the brink of weird; sounds like a little lioness named Leo.

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. Another notable bearer is Timoleon Jimanez, former leader of the rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

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

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.

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."

This cute-as-a-button name conjures playful lion and bear cubs rolling around in long grass. If cute baby names are what you're after, Cub should be on your list.

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.

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.

A mighty lion in sheep's clothing. Though Amandla looks, to the untrained eye, like a variant of milquetoast Amanda, it actually derives from the word for "power" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages, two of the major languages of South Africa. Anti-Apartheid activists often used the phrase "Amandla Awethu!", meaning "power to the people," as a rallying cry at protests. There was also a 2002 documentary about the role of music in the downfall of Apartheid called "Amandla."

Thurston Howell was the snooty millionaire on Gilligan's Island, but these days such surname names don't have the same elitist air.

The white winged stallion in Greek mythology who sprang from the blood of Medusa when she was beheaded by Perseus. Pegasus was ridden by the hero Bellerophon in his fight against the Chimera. The name may derive from the Greek for "from a water spring"; according to legend, a spring burst forth wherever Pegasus struck the earth with a hoof. So as well as being an animal name and a mythological name, you might consider this one of the names meaning water.

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 is Leontius.

The name of a legendary sculptor in Greek mythology, who fell in love with a statue of a beautiful woman which he had carved from ivory. There have been many adaptations of the story of Pygmalion, including notable plays by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and George Bernard Shaw.

Singer Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko, who goes by her first name, won the Eurovision contest in 2004 and remains a popular artist in Ukraine.

The first bride on "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire." -- not the classiest of names.

Name your daughter after "The Apprentice" hellion at your own peril.

Hebrew name rarely heard in the U. S. , making it a distinctive choice.