Given name & surname
Lyon
“resembling the animal”
Lyon is a variant of Lion. One English interpretation is “resembling the animal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Lyon is a variant of Lion. One English interpretation is “resembling the animal.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Lyon is a variant of Lion. An origin associated with Lion is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Lyon through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 962
- 962 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 84 babies
- 2025
- 54
- #2,502 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +24%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 54 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,502 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 23.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 736 as a first name in 2020; 26,997 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.
Lyon’s family of names
In English usage, Lyon as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with Leo. Lyon has a related form in Lion. In English usage, Lyon as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with Lev.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lyon has relatives in 32 languages.
30 related names in 32 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 34
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Leodoublet · English
- Leonequivalent
- Levdoublet · English
- Lyanequivalent
- LionaLatvian
- Jolyonequivalent
- Lyonsalso known as · English
- Léonequivalent
Show 26 moreShow fewer
- Leudoublet
- ЛіонUkrainian
- ลียงThai
- லியோன்Tamil
- لیۆنckb
- LioniSicilian
- ЛионSerbian, Russian
- LiãoPortuguese
- لیونPersian
- LionasLithuanian
- LugdunumLatin
- リヨンJapanese
- LioneItalian
- ליוןHebrew
- ΛυώνGreek
- ლიონიGeorgian
- LiónGalician
- Liyonfrp
- LionoEsperanto
- 리옹Korean
- 里昂Chinese
- LióCatalan
- ЛіёнBelarusian
- ԼիոնArmenian
- LyónAragonese
- ليونArabic
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lyon
- L. Sprague de CampAmerican non- and speculative fiction writer1907–2000
- Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron PlayfairBritish politician and chemist (1818–1898)
- Lyon Gardiner TylerAmerican educator, son of US President John Tyler1853–1935
- Lyon DanielsAmerican actorborn 2007
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lyon, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lian
“of the willow”
90% boys · 10% girls
Lawson
“the son of Lawrence”
96% boys · 4% girls
Lucian
“surrounded by light”
>99% boys
Ayaan
Ayaan is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Leonel
“resembling a lion” · “resembling a young lion”
>99% boys
Lucca
“surrounded by light”
93% boys · 7% girls
Leandro
“lion” · “man”
>99% boys
Kyson
Kyson is a masculine given name.
>99% boys