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Help us name the lion cubs

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor


We call them cute, we call them precious, and now we want to call the lion cubs by the names you help pick! Vote now and you’ll also have the chance to enter to win a random drawing for a ZooParent lion cub adoption.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The one name with the most votes will automatically be selected, and then it gets interesting! We’ll take the 2nd, 3rd and 4th most popular names and leave it to mom Adia and dad Xerxes to finish the job. On Thurs., Jan. 29, we’ll present the parents with enrichment choices, each associated with a name, and the two they touch first will be the names they select.

We’ll announce all the final name selections and share photos here!

Cast your #namethelions vote for your top three preferred names. The name choices are derived from languages that reflect parts of the South African lion’s native range. For inspiration, here’s the scoop on our triplets:

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Cub 1, Male: The smallest of the cubs is also the most independent and adventurous.
Cub 2, Male: This cub enjoys wrestling with his brothers and resting close to mom.
Cub 3, Male: The largest of the cubs, this one is protective and is never too far from mom’s side.

Name choices
  • Bokang (“Praise” or “Rejoice”)
  • Pule (“Rainy/In the rain”)
  • Tandie (“Fire”)
  • Karabo (“Answer”)
  • Letlotlo (“Treasure”)
  • Phahamo (“Eminence”)
  • Fanyana (“Little boy”)
  • Bheka (“Behold”)
  • Mandla (“Power/Strength”)
  • Gandia (“Clever”)


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