Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Lon
BoyEnglish, Spanish· “short for Alonzo or Lonnie”
- Meaning
- short for Alonzo or Lonnie
- Origin
- English, Spanish
- Pronunciation
- LAHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #193 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1948
Meaning and origin of Lon
Lon is an English and Spanish name that is usually said to mean “short for Alonzo or Lonnie”.
Lon is a short form of Alonzo, Lonnie or Leonard. Alonzo is a Spanish form of Alfonso, from Germanic words for noble and ready, while Leonard means brave lion. Lon was used as an independent name in the US in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is said LAHN, rhyming with Don. Lonnie is a related form. The name is short, simple and old-fashioned. The actor Lon Chaney, famous for silent horror films, made the name familiar.
Popularity over time
Lon has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 94 different years. Its best national rank was #193 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1948, when 274 were named Lon. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #1,027 in 1920, #434 in 1950, #1,222 in 1980, and #5,477 in 2000. Of the 9,836 US boys named Lon since records began, 24% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 1,723 babies. Since 2010, 67 more have been named Lon.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Linwood, Frederic, Fredric, Donn, and Dickie.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Lon is usually pronounced LAHN, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with L and ends in “-on”.
Middle names for Lon
A few middle names that flow with Lon: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lon
Similar names
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Lists that include Lon
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lon mean?
Lon is an English and Spanish name that is usually said to mean “short for Alonzo or Lonnie”.
What is the origin of the name Lon?
Lon has English and Spanish roots. Lon is a short form of Alonzo, Lonnie or Leonard.
Is Lon a popular name?
No. Lon was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Lon a boy or girl name?
Lon is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Lon?
Lon is usually pronounced LAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings