Lyon

♂ Boy

Pronounced lee-AWN /li.ˈɔn/Medium

Meaning: Variant of Lion/Leon, from Latin leo 'lion'; also a place name (the city of Lyon).Medium

In 30 seconds: Lyon is a boy's name tied to the lion — a variant of Lion and Leon from Latin leo — and also to the French city of Lyon.

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Origin MediumDutch, Latin, French

MeaningVariant of Lion/Leon, from Latin leo 'lion'; also a place name (the city of Lyon).

U.S. rank (2025)#2502 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births54 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 962

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

Lyon traces back to the Latin leo, 'lion', making it a cousin of Lion and Leon. The spelling also matches the French city of Lyon, so the name can be read either as an animal name or a place name. That double reading — beast and city — gives parents two honest stories to choose between.

Pronounced like the English word for the big cat, it keeps the strength of Leon while looking distinctly French on the page.

Did you know? The meaning attached to Lyon is 'lion', from Latin leo as a variant of Lion/Leon, and the name also recalls the French city of Lyon.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Lyon — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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If you like Lyon…

Leon— A direct relative from the same Latin leo, 'lion'.

Leo— The short Latin source word 'lion' standing as a name itself.

Lyle— Shares the Ly- opening and a French connection.

Pierson— a fellow Dutch choice

London— a fellow Latin choice

Explore names like Lyon

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By meaningLion

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lyon mean?

Lyon is chiefly a variant of Lion/Leon, from Latin leo 'lion', and also refers to the French city of Lyon. It is most often linked with Dutch and French tradition.

How do you pronounce Lyon?

It's commonly said lee-AWN /li.ˈɔn/.

Is Lyon a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Lyon is used as a boy name.

How popular is Lyon?

In 2024, Lyon ranked #1897 in the U.S. for boys, with 84 births recorded.