Rare variant of Lionel, from Old French meaning 'young lion.'
Lonel is a rare variant of Lionel, which comes from Old French and means young lion. That underlying image gives the name its strength, even though the shorter form feels softer and more compact.
As a given name, Lonel has a gentle nobility and a quiet, almost scholarly tone. It retains the lion symbolism of its source while sounding slightly more intimate than Lionel. The result is rare, distinctive, and subtly regal.