Ariel, Leo, Simba, and 60+ More Lion Names for Your Pet

Quick Take

• One Hebrew name on this list has a double life, belonging to both a beloved Disney princess and a word meaning "lion of God." See the Hebrew names →
• A cat name that originates from Greek mythology once belonged to a man-eating lion with impenetrable skin. Find out which one made the list. Find the mythological cat name →
• Although the words mean "lion" in over half a dozen languages, each version sounds completely different and carries its own cultural weight. Explore lion names by language →
• One iconic film studio logo hides a lion character famous enough to earn a spot alongside Simba and Aslan. Can you guess which one? Discover the studio mascot →

While it’s unlikely that you have a lion you need to name, many people name domestic cats, and even dogs, after these impressive big cats. If you’re looking for name that fits your pet’s looks or confident personality, a lion-inspired name is perfect for your furry companion. Whether your dog has a thick ruff that looks like a lion’s mane, or your cat is a fearless king or a graceful huntress, read on to learn some memorable and fun lion names that capture the spirit of the jungle.

Names That Mean Lion or Lioness

Do you have a large, regal Maine coon or a slender, muscular, ancient-looking Abyssinian? Try these majestic names that either mean lion or lioness or refer to these animals:

• Abbas – Arabic for “lion”
• Abuhafs – “The father of a lion cub,” originated from Arabic
• Adisimah – Sanskrit/Indian for “primordial lion,” signifying strength
• Ariel – Hebrew for “lion of God”
• Ariah – Hebrew for “lioness of God”
• Alparslan – Turkish for “heroic lion”
• Asadullah – Arabic for “lion of Allah”
• Aslan/Arslan – Turkish for “lion”
• Aryeh – Hebrew for “lion”
• Asad – Arabic for “lion”
• Gazanfer – Arabic for “fierce lion”
• Hamza – Arabic for “lion”
• Haydar – Arabic for “lion” or “warrior”
• Jansher – Persian for “life of a lion”
• Leonard – Derived from Old German (as well as Latin), meaning “brave lion”
• Leander – Greek for “lion man”
• Leandra – The Greek feminine form of Leander, meaning “lioness”
• Leo – Latin for “lion”
• Leon – Ancient Greek for “lion”
• Leona – Lioness, the feminine form of the Ancient Greek and Latin Leon/Leo
• Leonidas – Son of a lion, derived from the ancient Greek word leon, meaning “lion,” and the suffix -idas, which means “son of” or “descendant of”
• Lev/Levka – Of Slavic and Russian origins, meaning “lion”
• Lionel – French for “young lion”
• Lionello – Of Latin and Italian roots, meaning “little lion”
• Lionella – The feminine form of Lionello, meaning “little lioness”
• Llewyn – A name of Welsh origin relating to llew, which means “lion”
• Nala – a Swahili word that means both “queen” and “lion”
• Narhari – Of Sanskrit/Indian origins, a traditional Hindu name that means “man-lion”
• Narshima – Like Narhari, Narshima is also a traditional Hindu name of Sanskrit/Indian origins meaning “man-lion”
• Sher – Persian for “lion”
• Simba – “Lion” in Swahili
• Singh – Sanskrit for “lion”
• Udaisingh – Sanskrit for “rising lion”

Names Based on Famous Lion Characters

Lions can also have a famous name like Simba or Nala from “The Lion King.” For a more sinister option, name your cat after Simba’s evil uncle, Scar. You could also choose something a bit more silly like Drooper from the old TV show, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. Here are a few famous lion names:

• Alex – Main character in DreamWorks’ “Madagascar”
• Aslan – The Great Lion and the King of Beasts in “The Chronicles of Narnia”
• Azure Lion – The main character in “Journey to the West” 
• Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion – From the TV show “Daktari”
• Cowardly Lion – The lion from “The Wizard of Oz” 
• Drooper – Member of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
• Hercules the Lion – Character from “The Ugly Duckling” 
• Kimba the White Lion – The main character in the anime “Kimba the White Lion”
• King Moonracer – The King of the Island of Misfit Toys from the stop-motion animation “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
• Kovu – Character in “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride”
• Lambert – Character in Disney’s “Lambert the Sheepish Lion”
• Leo – Character in the “Leo the Lion” animated series
• Lionheart – Medieval bestiary’s king of animals, also the king in Disney’s “Robin Hood,” depicted as a lion
• Lippy the Lion – Character from “The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series”
• MGM Lion – The iconic roaring lion seen in the MGM Film Studio logo
• Mufasa – King of the Pride Lands in Disney’s “The Lion King”
• Nala – Character from “The Lion King,” Simba’s female friend
• Nemean Lion – Man-eating lion with impenetrable skin in Greek mythology
• Nuka – Character in “The Lion King II- Simba’s Pride”
• Parsley the Lion – Children’s TV character from “The Herbs” and “The Adventures of Parsley”
• Prince John – Disney’s “Robin Hood” character, depicted as a lion
• Sarabi – “The Lion King” character, Simba’s mother
• Scar – Villain in Disney’s “The Lion King”
• Simba – “The Lion King” main character
• Snagglepuss – Hanna-Barbera cartoon character
• Stamford the Lion – Character from “The Wombles”
• Zampa the Lion – Character from “Zampa the Lion” comics
• Zuba – Character in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”