Lennie
Lennie is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Brave lion; hardy or strong.
Origin and history
Lennie is a diminutive form of names like Leonard (meaning 'brave lion') or Lennart. Historically used for both boys and girls, it gained individual usage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the U.S., it remains a rare, vintage choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
2,890 babies in the United States have been named Lennie since 1880. It ranks #2409 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1903.
States where it is most popular
- CA (23.9 %)
- NC (23.2 %)
- NY (16.8 %)
- IL (6.4 %)
- MI (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 41 |
| 1890-1900 | 46 |
| 1900-1910 | 47 |
| 1910-1920 | 160 |
| 1920-1930 | 211 |
| 1930-1940 | 191 |
| 1940-1950 | 332 |
| 1950-1960 | 584 |
| 1960-1970 | 568 |
| 1970-1980 | 320 |
| 1980-1990 | 172 |
| 1990-2000 | 88 |
| 2000-2010 | 49 |
| 2010-2019 | 57 |
| 2020-2029 | 24 |
Famous people named Lennie
- Lennie James: Actor, Playwright
- Lennie Tristano: Pianist, Composer
- Lennie Hayton: Composer, Conductor
Fun facts
- Lennie Small is one of the primary characters in John Steinbeck's classic 1937 novella 'Of Mice and Men'.
- It originated primarily as a pet form of Leonard, which stems from the Germanic roots 'leo' (lion) and 'hard' (brave/hardy).