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Leonila
Pronounced lay-oh-NEE-lah /leɪ.oʊˈniː.lə/Low
Meaning: Leonila is a Spanish feminine name built on the Leon/Leonilda family, ultimately from Latin 'leo', 'lion'. It is also the name of an early Christian saint, Leonilla, which helped carry it through Spanish-speaking Catholic communities.Low
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
Leonila is a feminine elaboration in the Leon and Leonilda group, all tracing to the Latin word for lion. It reached American records through Spanish-speaking families and carries a saintly association through Leonilla.
It was never common in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its 1936 peak, though scattered records reach into recent decades. A girl named Leonila at that peak would be a grandmother or great-grandmother today, and the name remains firmly traditional.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Leonila mean?
It is a Spanish feminine name in the Leon and Leonilda family, from Latin 'leo' meaning 'lion', and linked to Saint Leonilla.
How do you pronounce Leonila?
It is said lay-oh-NEE-lah /leɪ.oʊˈniː.lə/ - four syllables.
Is Leonila a boy or girl name?
Leonila is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Leonila?
It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the mid-nineteen-thirties.