Leontine
Female nameLatin
✨ Meaning
Leontine is a French feminine form built on the Latin 'leo,' lion, by way of the name Leontius. The ending gives it a delicacy that plays against the meaning, so the name reads as lion-like without any of the bluntness that the word lion usually carries. It belongs to the same cluster as Leonie and Leontina, which are used in Dutch, German and Italian respectively.
🌍 Origin
Leontine was used in France, Belgium and the Netherlands from the nineteenth century and travelled to the United States with European emigration. It has always been uncommon in English-speaking countries and is now rare, though the wider revival of long feminine names ending in -ine has brought it back into occasional discussion.
⭐ Famous People Named Leontine
- Leontine Sagan
- Leontine T. Kelly
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leontine mean?
Leontine means 'lion-like,' a French feminine form built on the Latin 'leo' by way of Leontius.
How is Leontine pronounced?
In French it is lay-on-TEEN. English speakers usually say LEE-on-teen.
What names are related to Leontine?
Leonie in Dutch and German, Leontina in Italian, and the wider family of Leo, Leon and Leona.