Leonel
How to say it: lee-oh-NEL · /ˌlioʊˈnɛl/
Spanish/Portuguese variant of Lionel, diminutive of Leon; from Latin 'leo' meaning lion.
Leonel was the 353rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 942 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 15% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #337 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #353 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 942 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,519 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +15% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #337 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Rising through the 2020s, Leonel stands at its peak. More growth looks likely ahead.
What goes with it
Flowing soft sounds across three syllables give Leonel a strong presence that travels well. Leandro and Santiago share its spirit.
Middle names that flow with Leonel →
Parents who love Leonel also love
Nicknames
- Leo
- Leon
- Nel
- Nelo
Honouring a Leonel in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Leonel is about 1 in 147.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Leonel
- Leonel Fernández (born 1953)Former president of the Dominican Republic
- Leonel Sánchez (1936–2022)Chilean footballer
- Leonel Moreira (born 1990)Costa Rican footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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