Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Lenny
Lenny
β Boy
Pronounced LEN-ee /ΛlΙn.iΛ/Low
Meaning: Brave lion; diminutive of LeonardLow
In 30 seconds: Lenny is a friendly diminutive of Leonard (brave lion, from Old High German lewo-hard) or Glenn. A warm, accessible name with a long history as both a standalone and nickname.
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MeaningBrave lion; diminutive of Leonard
U.S. rank (2025)#1419 β Falling
2025 U.S. births128 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1961
Total births (all-time)β 8,298
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Lenny is a diminutive of Leonard from Old High German leon (lion) and hard (strong, brave), meaning brave lion. It has been used as a standalone name since the 19th century.
Lenny has a warm friendly quality and is associated with comedian Lenny Bruce and musician John Lennon.
Did you know? Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), the groundbreaking comedian who challenged obscenity laws and shaped American comedy, gave the name an association with fearless free expression and artistic courage.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
LeonardGlennLenLennie
Nicknames
Len
Famous Bearers
- β
Lenny Bruce (1925β1966)American stand-up comedian who challenged obscenity laws and shaped modern comedy
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Frequently Asked
What does Lenny mean?
Brave lion; diminutive of Leonard
How do you pronounce Lenny?
Lenny is pronounced LEN-ee.
What is the origin of Lenny?
Lenny comes from Germanic, English.
What names are similar to Lenny?
Similar names include charlie, benny, freddy.