Given name & surname
Lennie
“having the strength of a lion”
Lennie is a variant of Leonard. One German interpretation is “having the strength of a lion.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Lennie is a variant of Leonard. One German interpretation is “having the strength of a lion.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Lennie is a variant of Leonard. Leonard has been associated with Old French and Germanic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Lennie is a variant of Leonard. The history of Leonard gives this family its wider story. Use of Leonard was revived during the 19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lennie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,725
- 2,890 boys · 4,835 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 147 babies
- 2025
- 77
- #2,557 for girls · #9,378 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +128%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 12% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 69 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,557 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 177.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 123 in 1915. It also appeared in 8 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Utah had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,841 as a first name in 2020; 294 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Lennie
- Lennie JamesBritish actorborn 1965
- Lennie TristanoAmerican jazz pianist and composer (1919–1978)
- Lennie NiehausAmerican saxophonist and composer (1929–2020)
- Lennie HaytonAmerican composer and conductor (1908-1971)
- Lennie BluettAmerican actor and musician (1919-2016)
- Lennie KristensenDanish bicycle racer, born 1968
- Lennie RosenbluthAmerican basketball player (1933–2022)
- Lennie MerulloAmerican baseball player1917–2015
- Lennie Hoffmann, Baron HoffmannBritish and South African judge (born 1934)
Characters named Lennie: Lennie Briscoe (Law & Order character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lennie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jennie
“one who is fair; a beautiful girl”
>99% girls
Lottie
“a small, strong woman” · “free man”
>99% girls
Mable
“one who is lovable”
>99% girls
Lorraine
“territory of the people of Lothar” · “from the kingdom of Lothair”
>99% girls
Tillie
“one who is mighty in battle” · “the power of the people”
>99% girls
Luella
“a famous warrior”
>99% girls
Elvira
“a-truthful woman; one who can be trusted”
>99% girls
Sybil
“a prophetess; a seer”
>99% girls