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Baby Names That Mean “Lion” and “Lioness”
Congratulations! Your sweet little cub is en route, and it’s time to pick a fierce name! Lions are loyal, intelligent, beautiful, and fearsome creatures. They’re featured in literature and other media as characters themselves or in metaphors galore. Representing impactful, regal presence, these big cats exist in a way that naturally inspires a viewer. If you want baby to take a page or two from these majestic beasts’ books, a baby girl, boy, or gender-neutral name meaning “lion” or “lioness” will always provide a reminder.
Explore Baby Girl and Boy Names That Mean “Lion” and “Lioness”
Fun Facts About Lions!
There are the quick grab-and-go facts like lionesses don’t have manes, lions live in prides, and the dangerously cute babies are called cubs. However, there is certainly more to know about these fearsome creatures than meets the eye! For instance, it’s widely known that lions hunt for their food, but did you know they hunt during all the daylight hours? And it’s the females who do the hunting, while the male lions mostly patrol and protect the unit. But even if their hunting prowess leaves them difficult to find—unless they want to be found, of course—their roars can be heard from a whopping 5 miles away.
How fast can lions run?
As is known about most jungle or safari cats, lions are fast. Coming in just after cheetahs reaching speeds of around 60 miles per hour, jaguars and lions are tied for second, averaging bursts of 50 miles per hour. However, lions are also capable of incredible leaps up to 36 feet, rightfully having them crowned as the kings of the jungle. If that speed is incomprehensible to you, consider that Usain Bolt’s highest speed ever reached was around 27 miles per hour!
Who really runs the pride?
Most people know the answer to this; the lionesses are undoubtedly the cats that run the show. From extraordinary hunting feats to their nuanced political system, the female lions are the ones you definitely don’t want to mess with. The lion family unit—the only big cats to live in such a way—is a matriarchal society. The males are socially required to fight for dominance or leave the pride entirely, while the female lions continue on the bloodline with males they deem suitable for the longevity of their family unit. In short, lionesses are the badasses you thought they were.
