Save Gender Feminine Usage Arthurian Romance Meaning & History Means "lioness" in Middle English. In Thomas Malory's 15th-century tale Le Morte d'Arthur this is the name of a woman trapped in a castle by the Red Knight. Her sister Lynet gains the help of the knight Gareth in order to save her. Related NamesFamily Tree·Details VariantLionesseOther Languages & CulturesLeontia(Ancient Greek) Leona, Leontýna(Czech) Leola, Leona, Leone(English) Léonce, Léone, Léontine, Léonne(French) Leontina(Italian) Leontina(Late Roman) Categories animals, Arthurian legend, fauna, felines, lions, literature, y vowels