name Common

Lionel

LEYE-uhnl

Lionel (name) means a male given name from Latin of mostly British usage. Example: “, Scene IV His grandfather was Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward, King of England. Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root?”

name

A male given name from Latin of mostly British usage.

", Scene IV His grandfather was Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward, King of England. Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root?"

""Yes. You see, I was born under the sign of Leo, though it's not my real name." "What is your real name?" I saw Marcus looking at me, but I couldn't refuse to tell her. "It's Lionel. But don't tell anyone." "Why not?" "Because it's rather a fancy name."" — L. P. Hartley (1953)

A village in Ness, Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NB5363). From Scottish Gaelic.

noun

archaic lion cub

Word Forms

lionels plural

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, Scene IV His grandfather was _____, Duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward, King of England. Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root?

Etymology

A Middle English diminutive of French Léon, Latin Leo (“lion”), or of the Middle English nickname Lion + -el (diminutive suffix).

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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Leo Leonel Lionelle

Related Words

Leo Leonard Leon Leonardo Aquarius Leona Heo

Rhymes for Lionel

colonel

See all rhymes for Lionel →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Lionel” mean?

The word “Lionel” means a male given name from Latin of mostly British usage.

How do you pronounce “Lionel”?

“Lionel” is pronounced LEYE-uhnl (/ˈlaɪənl/ in IPA).

How do you use “Lionel” in a sentence?

Here is “Lionel” used in a sentence: “, Scene IV His grandfather was Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward, King of England. Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root?”

What part of speech is “Lionel”?

Depending on how it is used, “Lionel” can be a name and a noun.

Where does the word “Lionel” come from?

The word “Lionel” comes from Latin. A Middle English diminutive of French Léon, Latin Leo (“lion”), or of the Middle English nickname Lion + -el (diminutive suffix).

Is “Lionel” a common word?

“Lionel” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Lionel” have?

“Lionel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name from Latin of mostly British usage.

Is "Lionel" a common first name?

"Lionel" is a male given name of mostly British usage, derived from Latin. It also names a village in Ness, Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's Western Isles, and in archaic usage referred to a lion cub.

What does "Lionel" mean in its archaic noun sense?

In archaic usage, "lionel" (lowercase) could mean a lion cub, reflecting its connection to the Latin root for "lion." This sense is not used in modern English.

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