113 Majestic Names That Mean Lion: For Feisty Little Cubs

Looking for a baby name with a serious roar? Names that mean lion offer a perfect blend of power, courage, and royal energy. From ancient mythology to modern pop culture, lion-inspired names carry a fierce legacy.

Whether you want a strong moniker for your little cub or a subtle nod to the king of the jungle, we have you covered. Grab your binoculars and explore our favorite lion names for boys, girls, and everyone in between.

26 Adventurous Girl Names That Mean Lion

Give your daughter a fierce start with these powerful girl names that mean lion. These fearless options range from ancient goddesses to modern favorites.

1. Aria: This popular name means “lioness” in Greek and also translates to a beautiful melody.
2. Arielle: You can use this highly feminine variant of Ariel to give your daughter a royal lion identity.
3. Athaleyah: This spectacular Hebrew girl name translates to “lioness of God.”
4. Bastet: This name honors the ancient Egyptian goddess of cats, who historians sometimes depict with a lioness head.
5. Cakusola: Choose this rare tribal African girl name to signify a lion-hearted love.
6. Cat: This classic nickname for Catherine means “pure” but doubles as a fun feline nod.
7. Emeteria: This rare Greek name carries the highly unusual meaning of “half-lion.”
8. Hafsa: Both Hafsa and Hafza serve as adorable Arabic names for a little lioness cub.
9. Kaur: This beautiful Indian surname and given name means “princess” or “lioness.”
10. Kefira: This unique Hebrew pick perfectly suits a young lioness daughter.
11. Kiara: Meaning “dark-haired” in Irish or “princess” in Swahili, this name belongs to Simba’s daughter in The Lion King II.
12. Leandra: As the feminine form of Leander, this title translates directly to “lion woman.”
13. Leona: This classic Latin name simply and beautifully means “lioness.”
14. Leoni: This playful variant of Leona stands out among modern girl names that mean lion.
15. Llwella: This Welsh origin name means “lioness” or “shining one” and works perfectly if you love the letter L.
16. Loni: This cute form of Leonie ranks high among sweet lion names with 4 letters.
17. Mehit: This name finds its inspiration in an ancient Egyptian lion goddess.
18. Menhit: Menhit reigned as a powerful Nubian lion goddess of war.
19. Nala: Famous as the Disney lion queen, this African name also triumphs with its meaning of “successful.”
20. Poldi: This gentle Hungarian pick works beautifully for a girl who grows up brave like a lion.
21. Ruslana: This feminine form of Ruslan shines among Russian girl names meaning lion.
22. Sabuah: This dreamy name of Arabic roots translates directly to “lioness.”
23. Savannah: This name refers to a treeless plain where you might easily spot a lion or two.
24. Tiaret: This delicate African female name means “lion.”
25. Xafsa: This Arabic girl’s name shares roots with Hafsa and provides a cool initial for a young lioness.
26. Zariel: This cute pick for a lion princess likely serves as a modern variant of Ariel.

66 Badass Boy Names That Mean Lion

These bold boy names mean lion and carry a fearless, masculine energy. Choose one of these strong options to give your little guy a courageous identity.

1. Aaron: This strong English name features “warrior lion” as a possible ancient meaning.
2. Abbas: This bold title stands proud among manly Arabic names that mean “stern lion.”
3. Alparslan: This powerful Turkish name denotes a heroic lion.
4. Apedemak: This name honors the Nubian god of war, who artists often depicted with a lion head.
5. Arik: Try this cool, masculine twist on the classic name Ariel.
6. Arslan: This strong name is popular across Asia and means “strong, warrior, lion.”
7. Aryeh: This traditional choice remains common and cool among Hebrew boy names meaning lion.
8. Asad: This solid Arabic pick represents a direct translation for the word lion.
9. Asadullah: This heavenly variant of Asad translates to “lion of Allah.”
10. Aslan: This Turkic lion name gained massive fame from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
11. Aslanbek: This commanding Turkic name translates to “lion master.”
12. Azmaray: Both Azmaray and Ezmaray act as variants of Zmaray, meaning “lion.”
13. Babar: This cat-friendly Persian and Pashto name means either “lion” or “tiger.”
14. Benroy: This Hebrew name means “son of a lion” and fits perfectly for kids with mighty parents.
15. Cougar: This fiery name honors a well-known, lion-like species of wildcat.
16. Daniel: This name means “God is my judge” and honors the biblical prophet thrown into a lions’ den.
17. Dhaigham: This Muslim name perfectly suits a little king of the jungle.
18. Gurion: This Hebrew name offers a warm and loving tone for a little lion cub.
19. Haidar: This trendy choice ranks high among Arabic boy names that mean lion.
20. Hamza: This popular Arabic name comes full of manly qualities, meaning “lion, strong, steadfast.”
21. Hari: This Sanskrit color name means lion and belongs to the Hindu god Vishnu.
22. Harun: This name carries powerful Arabic origins and translates to “warrior lion.”
23. Izem: This rare Berber name translates directly to “lion.”
24. Kfir: This unique baby name simply means “lion cub” in Hebrew.
25. Kosey: This Egyptian lion name features incredibly comforting phonetic sounds.
26. Laith: This name means lion in Arabic and also serves as a Scottish place name.
27. Lavi: This cool Hebrew name means lion, though it also stems from the Finnish Olavi.
28. Leander: This title means “lion man” and is deeply rooted in Greek mythology.
29. Leandro: This attractive variant of Leander spans Spanish, French, and Italian languages.
30. Leandros: This strong, traditionally Greek form of Leander perfectly suits a lion man.
31. Len: This short nickname works for various names containing the “Len” syllable.
32. Lencho: This fun African male name translates directly to “lion.”
33. Leo: This classic Latin lion name sounds very strong as a first or middle name.
34. Leon: This location-based name means lion and draws inspiration from various European cities.
35. Leonard: This fun old man name means “brave lion” and wears exceptionally well today.
36. Leonardo: This continental variant of Leonard fits perfectly for a handsome leading man.
37. Leonitus: This Latin name designates a man who lives his life like a lion.
38. Leontes: William Shakespeare famously used this creative variant of the Leo prefix.
39. Leopold: This hefty German pick continues the Leo theme and means “brave.”
40. Lev: This Russian take on Leo directly translates to “lion.”
41. Levon: This trendy Armenian lion name serves as a lively variant of Leon.
42. Lionel: This slightly vintage male name translates to “little lion.”
43. Llywellyn: This Welsh boy’s name means “lion-like, strong, leader.”
44. Luan: This charming name means “moon” in Portuguese and “lion” in Albanian.
45. Lyon: This French variant of Leon features cool, locational roots in France.
46. Maahes: This name honors the ancient Egyptian god of war, who possessed a lion head.
47. Miles: This warrior name perfectly describes a lion-hearted soldier.
48. Mufasa: This powerful Disney name means “king” and gained fame from The Lion King.
49. Napoleon: This historical name holds uncertain etymology but prominently features the “leon” element.
50. Othniel: This angelic biblical Hebrew name translates beautifully to “lion of God.”
51. Pantaleon: This epic and saintly Greek name translates to “lion of all.”
52. Panteley: This rare Bulgarian spin on Pantaleon offers a unique twist.
53. Rasalas: This celestial Arabic name refers to the northern star of the lion’s head.
54. Ruslan: This cool boy name remains highly popular in Eastern Europe and means “lion.”
55. Scar: This menacing lion name belongs to the famous villain from The Lion King.
56. Sher: This solid and friendly Persian pick translates directly to “lion.”
57. Sherzon: This title of Persian origins translates to “son of the lion.”
58. Shir: This spelling alternative to Sher means “lion” in Persian and “song” in Hebrew.
59. Simba: This iconic Swahili name means “lion” and dominates pop culture thanks to Disney.
60. Singh: This common Sikh surname and middle name comes from Sanskrit, meaning “lion, hero.”
61. Thimba: This Swahili name means “lion hunter” and sounds very similar to Simba.
62. Timoleon: This regal ancient Greek name translates to “honor, lion.”
63. Tocho: This affectionate Native American boy’s name translates specifically to “mountain lion.”
64. Usama: This commanding Muslim name perfectly suits a fierce king of the jungle.
65. Yeruslan: This Russian folklore name serves as a localized variant of Aslan.
66. Zmarai: Both Zmarai and Zmaray translate directly to “lion” in Pashto.

21 Unique Unisex Names Meaning Lion

These gender-neutral lion names work perfectly for any baby. They offer a fierce and flexible choice for modern parents.

1. Alex: This common unisex name means “defender of mankind” and belongs to the famous lion from Madagascar.
2. Ari: This cool nickname features a griffin-like double meaning of “lion” in Hebrew and “eagle” in Old Norse.
3. Ariel: This vibrant name sees use by Shakespeare and Disney, meaning “lion of God.”
4. Cub: This affectionate pet name fits perfectly for your fuzzy new offspring.
5. Dandelion: This unique flower name finds its etymology in French, translating to “lion’s tooth.”
6. Dilan: This great international name boasts various meanings, including “love” and “lion-like.”
7. Emery: This English name fits a kid who grows up brave, industrious, and powerful as a lion.
8. Griff: This cool nickname stems from Griffin and suits little legends perfectly.
9. Griffin: This given name honors the legendary eagle and lion hybrid creature.
10. Kasar: This Sanskrit name refers to a roaring lion and packs a serious punch.
11. Kimba: This name draws inspiration from the Japanese manga series Kimba the White Lion.
12. Lenni: This sweet Finnish choice ranks high among names inspired by animals and means “brave lion.”
13. Lion: This obvious word name works brilliantly for kiddos with the loudest roar.
14. Nemea: This name honors the frightful Nemean lion defeated by Hercules in Greek mythology.
15. Pride: This unique virtue name also refers directly to a family unit of lions.
16. Puma: This rare cat name draws inspiration from the agile species of mountain lion.
17. Raion: This Japanese name means “lion” and carries a beautiful golden shimmer.
18. Roary: This lion-themed spelling of Rory originally meant “red king” in Gaelic.
19. Safari: This rare Swahili name means “journey” and evokes images of lions, zebras, and giraffes.
20. Shishi: This Japanese name means “lion” and refers to the mythical stone protectors in Chinese culture.
21. Tau: This short, sweet African name offers a simple and powerful translation for “lion.”

Names That Mean Lion FAQs

What Lion Names Come from Mythology?

You can find great inspiration from mythology when selecting a lion name for your baby. Consider god and goddess titles such as Bastet, Menhit, Mehit, Apedemak, Maahes, or Hari.

What Name Means ‘Lion of God’?

Othniel is a heavenly boy name meaning “lion of God,” and we absolutely love Athaleyah for girls. Alternatively, Ariel offers a cute, gender-neutral option with the same meaning.

What Are Some Disney Lion Names?

Simba is the most popular Disney lion name. Other great options from The Lion King franchise include Mufasa, Nala, Scar, and Kiara.

What Is the Latin Name for Lion?

The Latin word for lion is Leo. This classic name has spawned dozens of beautiful variations across different cultures, including Leon, Leonardo, Leona, and Leopold.

What Girl Name Means Brave as a Lion?

Leona and Leonie are fantastic girl names that carry the brave spirit of a lioness. You can also choose Poldi, a Hungarian name that directly translates to “brave like a lion.”

Are There Japanese Names That Mean Lion?

Yes, Raion is the direct Japanese translation for lion. Shishi is another excellent Japanese name that translates to lion, often referring to the mythical stone lion dogs seen in traditional architecture.

What Name Means Lion Heart?

Richard is historically famous for the “lionheart” moniker, thanks to King Richard the Lionheart. You might also consider Cakusola, a rare African name that means “lion-hearted.”

What African Names Mean Lion?

African languages offer many beautiful names meaning lion. Tau, Simba, Diata, and Lencho are excellent boy options, while Nala, Tiaret, and Cakusola work perfectly for girls.

Can I Use Animal Names as Baby Names?

Absolutely. Using animal names like Lion, Puma, or Bear has become a highly popular modern naming trend. These names evoke a deep connection to nature and give your child a unique, strong identity.