Where does “Lionel” come from?

Lionel is an English diminutive of Leo, from Latin leō, from Ancient Greek λέων meaning lion.

Lionel (English): of mostly British usage

Definitions

  1. of mostly British usage

Ancestry of “Lionel”, step by step

Lionel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French Léon

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchLéon—
2BretonLeonlion
3Latinleō—
4Ancient GreekΛέωνlion
5Ancient Greekλέωνlion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage

via Old French lion

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlionlion animal
2Latinleōnem—
Every word from Ancient Greek λέων →Every word from Ancient Greek Λέων →Every word from Latin leō →
Lionel — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer