US Popularity Rank: 613

Origin: British

Meaning: Little lion, lion cub

Set baby up to be king of the playground with the name Leonel, a British baby boy name used widely across several languages, like Spanish and Portuguese. Leonel most commonly derives from the French name Lionel, meaning “lion cub” and has a flavorful, exotic sound to it. It can also be shortened to the trendy masculine nickname Leo, translating to “lion” in both Latin and Greek. Apart from its association with the Dancing on the Ceiling singer Lionel Richie and the big cats of the African savannah, Leo can also refer to the astrological sign of the same name and is a synchronistic choice for baby born in late August or early September.