Leonela
A feminine Spanish diminutive form of the name Leonor, derived from the Old German name Leanora.
Name Census estimates that about 1,014 living Americans carry the first name Leonela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Leonela today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leonela births was 1985 (67 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leonela. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.0K
~ 1 in 338,022 Americans
Peak year
1985
67 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,193
Tracked since 1980
Popularity
Leonela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Leonela from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 286 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leonela by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Leonela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Leonelas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Leonela, while Illinois, Arizona, Colorado recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 76 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Leonela
The name Leonela is a feminine form of the Latin name Leonellus, a diminutive of Leo, meaning "lion." Its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the lion was a revered symbol of strength and courage. The name was likely derived from the Latin words leo (lion) and the diminutive suffix -ella, creating a name that translates to "little lion."
During the Middle Ages, the name Leonela gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain. It was often associated with noble families who aspired to bestow upon their daughters names that conveyed bravery and valor. In some cases, the name was also influenced by the Latin word lumen, meaning "light," adding a connotation of radiance and illumination.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leonela can be found in the 12th century, when it was mentioned in a historical document from the Italian city of Florence. The document referred to a noblewoman named Leonela di Firenze, who was renowned for her charitable works and patronage of the arts.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Leonela. In the 15th century, Leonela de Velasco (1415-1486) was a Spanish noblewoman and the wife of Álvaro de Luna, a powerful constable of Castile during the reign of King Juan II. Her influence and political acumen played a significant role in the affairs of the kingdom.
Another prominent figure was Leonela Vicuña (1522-1598), a Spanish mystic and a co-founder of the Discalced Carmelite Order, alongside Saint Teresa of Ávila. Her dedication to spirituality and her writings on the contemplative life earned her recognition within the Catholic Church.
In the realm of literature, Leonela Preciado (1857-1934) was a Mexican poet and educator renowned for her lyrical works that celebrated the beauty of her homeland and the struggles of her people. Her poetry collection, "Cantos del hogar" (Songs of the Home), published in 1904, received critical acclaim.
Moving into the 20th century, Leonela Relys (1919-2008) was a Cuban ballet dancer and choreographer who left a lasting impact on the world of dance. She co-founded the National Ballet of Cuba and served as its artistic director for over three decades, nurturing generations of talented dancers.
Lastly, Leonela Ahumada (1935-2017) was a Chilean writer and journalist celebrated for her contributions to children's literature. Her books, which explored themes of imagination, friendship, and adventure, captivated young readers and earned her numerous awards and accolades throughout her career.
People
Leonela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leonela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Leonela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leonela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,014 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leonela going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 338,022 US residents.
Is Leonela a common name?
We classify Leonela as "Rare". It ranks above 90.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,044 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leonela most popular?
The single biggest year for Leonela was 1985, when 67 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leonela is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Leonela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leonela in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.