Leonel vs. Theodore?

smiley1322 · December 2015

Leonel (nickname Leo) or Theodore (nickname Theo)?

Last name is Hispanic, 2 syllables long and ends in -O.

Knottie1442268460 · December 2015

Theodore. Don't like Leonel. Lionel is what I'm familiar with.

fghmama6701 · December 2015

Lionel or Leonard.

holocene · December 2015

Is Leonel a family name? I've never heard it before, and am having a hard time finding solid information on it. Can I suggest Leonard instead?

Leonard and Theodore are two of my top boys names. I think the nicknames Leo and Theo are so good. It's tough to say which I like better... probably Leonard since it's less common than Theo/Theodore.

holocene · December 2015

I was able to find a user sumbitted entry on behindthename for Leonel. How do you pronounce it? Leo-nell?

[Deleted User] · December 2015

Love Theodore! Not familiar with and do not like Leonel. I wouldn't even know how to say it.

Bringmemylongswordho · December 2015

I feel like Lionel or Leon would be better options.

MamaWren919 · December 2015

I don't like Leonel, but love Leo. I would use Leo as a stand alone name.

yellowbean15 · December 2015

Don't love either full name but I prefer the nickname Theo better. For me, Leo just has too many strong, odd pop culture references for me to take it seriously. My mind immediately goes to Leo Getz from Lethal Weapon and then to Uncle Leo from Seinfeld. Haha. These references won't be relevant to your sons generation, but they are what stop me from loving the name Leo like everyone else seems to.

lm45678 · December 2015

Theodore

MixedBerries88 · December 2015

I love Theodore. I have never heard Leonel before.

tgrlily287 · December 2015

I have a friend who just named her baby Leopold (after her Grandfather). They call him Leo, and I think it's pretty cute. I've never heard of Leonel though. I have another friend who actually just named her son Leo.

cmerribury · December 2015

Theodore, for sure. Leonel sounds like you want to call your son Leo, but don't like Leonardo or Leonidas, so are attempting to alter Lionel.

BBeninate · December 2015

Theodore

mermaidbina · December 2015

Love Theo~~

mthoomom · December 2015

Theodore!

DSMLove · December 2015

If Leonel is your only option to get the nickname Leo, then go with Theodore.

If you are open to some of the above suggestions, then I prefer either Leonard, Leonardo, or Leopold with the nickname Leo.

4N6s · December 2015

Theodore

xxdove · December 2015

I agree that Lionel is much better than Leonal, aesthetically and in sound. Plus I think Leo is still a pretty valid nickname for Lionel.

Love Theodore/Theo anyway, though, so I vote for that!

ErinC1014 · December 2015

I have a friend who just named her baby Leonel. The emphasis is on the "NEL". When I first saw it, I def. wasn't sure of the pronunciation.. I thought maybe the same as Lionel. Everyone is calling him Leo for short.