Home › Baby Names Directory › Lennon

Lennon

♂ Boy

Pronounced LEN-un /ˈlɛn.ən/High

Meaning: Little cloak; or lover; from Irish Gaelic Ó Leannáin (descendant of Leannán), from leann (cloak) with a diminutive suffix; or from leannán (sweetheart)Medium

In 30 seconds: An Irish Gaelic surname meaning 'little cloak' or 'lover' — associated above all with John Lennon (1940–1980), whose music, activism, and assassination made his name a permanent cultural touchstone.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumIrish

MeaningLittle cloak; or lover; from Irish Gaelic Ó Leannáin (descendant of Leannán), from leann (cloak) with a diminutive suffix; or from leannán (sweetheart)

U.S. rank (2025)#808 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births308 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 8,002

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lennon is an anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Leannáin, from leannán (sweetheart, lover) or leann (cloak) with a diminutive suffix. As a given name it is almost entirely driven by the cultural legacy of John Lennon.

Lennon entered the U.S. boys' charts in the 2000s as a tribute name. It ranked #784 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? John Lennon co-wrote Imagine (1971) — consistently voted the greatest song of the 20th century in polls around the world — while staying at the Tittenhurst estate in England. The song's call for universal peace and human brotherhood is one of the most powerful in popular music history.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Lennon — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LeninLennon

Nicknames

Len

Famous Bearers

★John Lennon (1940–1980)
English singer-songwriter, co-founder of The Beatles, and peace activist. Wrote the song 'Imagine' (1971). He was murdered in New York City in December 1980.

If you like Lennon…

Lennox— see above

Leland— two-syllable English surname name in the same surname-name category

Leyton— two-syllable -ton surname in the same register

Lincoln— presidential surname name with the same literary cool

Explore names like Lennon

By themetwo-syllable irish surname-style gaelic musical tribute-name

By meaningLove

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lennon mean?

Lennon means 'little cloak' or 'sweetheart/lover,' from Irish Gaelic Ó Leannáin.

How do you pronounce Lennon?

It's said LEN-un — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Lennon a boy or girl name?

Lennon is primarily a boys' name but also appears in girls' data.

How popular is Lennon?

Lennon ranked #784 for U.S. boys in 2024.