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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lion

Lion

♂ Boy

Pronounced LY-ən /ˈlaɪ.ən/High

Meaning: From the English word lion — Latin leo — 'lion'; also a form of Leon/Lyon, the courage-and-strength animal nameMedium

In 30 seconds: King of the beasts, made a name: Lion is the animal word itself — courage, strength, royalty — and a bold cousin of Leon. Fierce, regal, and unmistakable.
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Origin MediumLatin, English
MeaningFrom the English word lion — Latin leo — 'lion'; also a form of Leon/Lyon, the courage-and-strength animal name
U.S. rank (2025)#3219 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 447

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219222025

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

Lion comes straight from the English word — Latin leo — 'lion', the animal of courage, strength, and royalty. It overlaps with Leon and the French city Lyon, and belongs to the bold animal-name trend (Wolf, Fox, Bear). A fierce, regal word-name.

It registers thinly in recent records. Rare, lion-strong at the root, and bold.

Did you know? The lion has symbolized courage and kingship across cultures — from the Lion of Judah to England's three lions — so naming a child Lion wraps him in that whole heraldry of bravery.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Leon — root background

Variations

LeonLyonLionel

Nicknames

Leo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Lion Feuchtwanger (1884-1958)
    German-Jewish novelist and playwright

If you like Lion…

Leon— the 'lion' name it overlaps
Leo— the short 'lion' classic
Wolf— a fellow bold animal-name
Bear— another strong animal word-name

Explore names like Lion

By themelatinword-nameanimal-name
By meaningStrengthBrave / CourageLion

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lion mean?

Lion is the word 'lion', from Latin leo — the animal of courage, strength, and royalty.

How do you pronounce Lion?

It's said LY-ən /ˈlaɪ.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Lion a boy or girl name?

Lion is a boy's name.

How popular is Lion?

Lion is a rare name in the U.S.

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