160+ Unique Names That Mean “Lion” or “Lioness”

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Boy and girl names that mean “lion”

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: July 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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For Boys

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For Girls

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Gender-Neutral

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Names That Mean “Brave”

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More Name Ideas

Lions are associated with courage, power, leadership, and royalty, so it’s no surprise that there are a lot of names that mean “lion.” If you’re looking for a powerful name for your baby, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best “lion” names for boys and girls, as well as gender-neutral options. Keep reading to find the perfect name for you.

Popular Names That Mean “Lion”

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For boys: Leo, Leon, Aslan, Simba, Lionel, Yariel
For girls: Leona, Ariella, Hafsah, Kefira, Nala, Tiaret
Unisex: Ariel, Aria, Saja, Sher, Shishi, Yong-sun

Section 1 of 5:

Boy Names That Mean “Lion”

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Pick a powerful name for your little king of the jungle. Lions are associated with power and bravery, which are great qualities for a baby boy to grow into. Here are some of the best boy names that mean “lion”:
- Abbas (Arabic for “lion”)
- Alisher (Arabic, Persian, and Turkic for “exalted lion”)
- Alparslan (Turkish for “heroic lion”)
- Anbas (Arabic for “courageous like a lion”)
- Arieh (Hebrew for “lion”)
- Aron (Egyptian for “warrior lion”)
- Arslan (Turkish and Persian for “lion”)
- Aryeh (Hebrew for “lion”)
- Asadi (Arabic for “like a lion”)
- Asadullah (Arabic for “lion of God”)
- Aslan (Turkish for “lion”)
- Aydarusi (Arabic for “lion”)
- Braylen (German for “lion”)
- Ceylon (Sanskrit for “lionlike, island of lions”)
- Diata (African for “lion”)
- Dillon (French for “lion”)
- Dirgham (Arabic for “lion”)
- Griffin (Welsh for “strong lord”; after the griffin, a half-lion, half-eagle mythical creature)
- Guri (Hebrew for “my lion cub”)
- Guryon (Hebrew for “young lion”)
- Hamza (Arabic for “lion”)
- Harit (Hindu for “lion, the sun”)
- Harren (Hebrew for “warrior lion”)
- Jansher (Persian for “life of a lion”)
- Laith (Arabic for “lion”)
- Lavie (Hebrew for “lion”)
- Leander (Greek for “lion of a man”)
- Leandro (Greek, Spanish, and Italian for “lion man”)
- Lencho (Oromo for “lion”)
- Lennart (German for “brave as a lion”)
- Leno (German for “lion”)
- Lenya (Russian for “lion”)
- Leo (Latin for “lion”)
- Leodore (Latin and Greek for “gift of the lion”)
- Leolin (Welsh for “lion-hearted”)
- Leoluca (Italian for “bright lion”)
- Leon (Greek for “lion”)
- Leonard (German for “brave as a lion”)
- Leonato (Italian and Greek for “lion-like, lion’s jaw”)
- Leonel (Latin and French for “young lion”)
- Leonid (Greek and Russian for “lion-like”)
- Leonidas (Greek for “lion-like, son of a lion”)
- Leontel (Greek and Latin for “lion-hearted”)
- Leontios (Greek for “lion-like”)
- Leonzal (Spanish and Latin for “house of the lion”)
- Lev (Slavic for “lion”)
- Levan (Georgian for “lion”)
- Levon (Armenian for “lion”)
- Leyon (Greek and French for “lion”)
- Lionel (French and Latin for “young lion”)
- Llewellyn (Scottish for “like a lion”)
- Loewe (German for “lion”)
- Luan (Albanian for “lion”)
- Lyon (French for “lion”)
- Lyov (Slavic for “lion”)
- Mrigesh (Hindi for “lion”)
- Mrinendra (Hindi for “lion”)
- Nantale (African for “clan totem is a lion”)
- Napoleon (Italian and Greek for “lion of Naples”)
- Narhari (Hindi for “man-lion”)
- Narsimha (Hindi for “a lion among men”)
- Othniel (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Parindra (Hindi for “lion”)
- Quillan (Gaelic for “cub, leo”)
- Rasalas (Arabic for “the northern star of the lion’s head”)
- Ruslan (Turkic for “lion-like”)
- Shardul (Indian for “lion, tiger”)
- Sherali (Persian for “lion”)
- Sherzod (Persian for “son of a lion”)
- Simba (Swahili for “lion”)
- Sundiata (West African for “Sogolon’s lion, lion prince”)
- Sundjata (Malinke for “Sogolon’s lion”)
- Tau (Tswana and Sotho for “lion”)
- Timoleon (Greek for “honoring the lion”)
- Usama (Arabic for “lion”)
- Yariel (Hebrew and Spanish for “lion of God”)

Section 2 of 5:

Girl Names That Mean “Lion”

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Choose a name worthy of a strong lioness. You likely want to raise your baby girl to be strong, intelligent, and independent, so a name that means “lioness” is totally fitting! Check out these powerful girl names:
- Abaasa (Arabic for “lioness”)
- Ariella (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Arisbeth (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Baabarah (Turkish for “lioness”)
- Chephirah (Hebrew for “young lioness”)
- Fadha (Arabic for “lioness, tigress”)
- Faraal (Arabic for “house of a lion”)
- Hafsah (Arabic for “young lioness”)
- Harikumari (Sanskrit for “lion-born daughter”)
- Harisa (Arabic for “lioness”)
- Kefira (Hebrew for “young lioness”)
- Kephira (Hebrew for “lion cub”)
- Leandra (Greek and Latin for “lioness”)
- Lenna (German for “lion-hearted”)
- Leola (Latin and German for “lioness”)
- Leona (Latin for “lioness”)
- Leonarda (German for “lion-hearted”)
- Leondrea (French for “lioness”)
- Leonie (Latin for “lioness”)
- Leonilda (Italian and Portuguese for “lion in battle”)
- Leontine (Greek for “lion”)
- Leontyna (Greek and Latin for “lion-like”)
- Leya (Sanskrit for “lioness”)
- Lia (Latin for “lioness”)
- Lionella (English for “little lion”)
- Llewella (Welsh for “lion-like leader”)
- Loni (Greek and Latin for “lioness”)
- Lyonesse (Arthurian for “lioness”)
- Nala (Swahili for “lion, queen, gift”)
- Nantale (Ugandan for “totem of the lion”)
- Narasimhi (Sanskrit for “she who is a lioness”)
- Ruslana (Slavic for “lioness”)
- Shardoolini (Sanskrit for “she who is strong as a lion”)
- Simhika (Sanskrit for “lioness”)
- Tiaret (Amazigh for “lioness”)
- Zaki (African for “lion’s prowess”)

Section 3 of 5:

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean “Lion”

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Pick a powerful name that could work for any gender. There aren’t a ton of gender-neutral names that mean “lion,” but the ones that exist are totally cool. Try one of these names if you aren’t sure of your baby’s gender or if you simply prefer gender-neutral names:
- Aerie (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Ari (Hebrew for “lion”)
- Aria (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Ariel (Hebrew for “lion of God”)
- Saja (Korean for “lion, messenger”)
- Sher (Persian for “lion”)
- Shishi (Japanese for “lion-dog”)
- Yong-sun (Korean for “the dragon in the first position”)

Section 4 of 5:

Names That Mean “Brave”

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Choose a name associated with bravery and courage. Lions are symbols of bravery and leadership. If you can’t find a name you like that literally means “lion,” consider choosing one that relates to their characteristics. Here are some examples:
- Abelardo (Spanish for “noble strength”)
- Abir (Hebrew for “protector”)
- Adira (Hebrew for “strong, mighty”)
- Allard (French and English for “noble, brave”)
- Amalee (German for “brave, bold”)
- Ander (Basque for “manly, strong”)
- Andrea (Greek for “warrior, protector”)
- Andrew (Greek for “courageous, manly, warrior”)
- Arnold (German for “strong ruler”)
- Audrey (English for “noble strength”)
- Azzami (Arabic for “one with a strong will”)
- Baseel (Arabic for “brave, strong”)
- Basil (Arabic for “brave, valiant”)
- Bridget (Gaelic for “power, strength”)
- Casey (Irish for “vigilant, brave”)
- Chasin (Hebrew for “strong, mighty”)
- Conrad (German for “brave counsel”)
- Emersyn (English for “brave, powerful”)
- Emmeline (English and French for “vigorous, brave”)
- Ethan (Hebrew for “strong, long-lived”)
- Gasira (Swahili for “brave”)
- Harvey (French and English for “battle worthy”)
- Imara (Swahili for “firm, resolute”)
- Keena (Gaelic for “brave and wise”)
- Koa (Hawaiian for “brave, bold”)
- Kwan (Korean for “strong”)
- Mandla (Zulu for “strength”)
- Matilda (German for “mighty in battle”)
- Maximus (Latin for “greatest”)
- Melisande (French for “brave strength”)
- Philomena (Greek for “lover of strength”)
- Quinn (Irish for “chief, leader, wisdom”)
- Riley (Irish for “brave”)
- Rita (Sanskrit for “brave, honest”)
- Sasha (Greek and Russian for “defender of mankind”)
- Urwa (Arabic for “strong support”)
- Valencia (Latin for “strength, power”)
- Valeria (Latin for “strong, brave”)
- Valerie (Latin for “strong, brave”)
- Valiant (English for “brave, courageous”)
- Walburga (German for “strong protection”)
- Wyatt (German for “brave, hardy, strong fighter”)
- Yusuke (Japanese for “brave, courage, to help”)