Leonella is a unique and captivating feminine given name with an Italian origin. It is derived from the masculine Italian name Leonardo, which means "brave lion" in English. The suffix "-ella," commonly used in Italy, denotes femininity.
The name Leonella has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Leonella Sighele, an Italian nurse and missionary who dedicated her life to serving others. She worked tirelessly in Africa during the 20th century, providing medical care and support to those in need. Her selfless acts have earned her a place among the Blessed in the Catholic Church.
While there may not be extensive historical records or popular culture references related to the name Leonella, its Italian roots and association with strong, compassionate women like Leonella Sighele make it an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their daughter.
The name Leonella has been given to a total of 79 babies in the United States over the years. The name's popularity seems to have waxed and waned over time. In the early part of the last century, between 1918 and 1922, there were five births each year for this particular name. After a gap of nearly two decades with no recorded births of Leonella, it re-emerged in 1941 with six births.
The name Leonella then went through another period of decline until the turn of the new millennium when it started to gain some traction once again. In the year 2010, there were nine babies named Leonella, which was a significant increase from previous years. This trend continued into the early 2010s with six births each year from 2011 to 2014.
After a brief decline in popularity between 2015 and 2016 with five births each year, Leonella's popularity surged again in recent years. In 2019, there were eight babies named Leonella, which was the highest number of births recorded for this name since 2010.
Most recently, in 2021 and 2023, there were five and six births respectively for the name Leonella, indicating that while it may not be one of the most popular names at present, it is still being chosen by parents for their newborn daughters.