Lev
Lev is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Heart (Hebrew) or Lion (Slavic).
Origin and history
Lev is a name with dual origins, meaning 'heart' in Hebrew and 'lion' in Slavic languages like Russian. Historically prominent in Eastern Europe, it has seen a noticeable surge in contemporary U.S. usage as a short, punchy single-syllable name. Its dual heritage gives it both gentle and strong symbolic associations.
Popularity in the United States
2,999 babies in the United States have been named Lev since 1880. It ranks #2359 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #966.
States where it is most popular
- CA (30.6 %)
- NY (23.5 %)
- FL (14.6 %)
- IL (4.4 %)
- MA (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 40 |
| 1980-1990 | 37 |
| 1990-2000 | 112 |
| 2000-2010 | 317 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,254 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,239 |
Famous people named Lev
- Lev Tolstoy: Author, Novelist
- Lev Landau: Physicist, Nobel Laureate
- Lev Yashin: Athlete, Soccer Player
Fun facts
- The name Lev independently evolved in Hebrew meaning 'heart' and in Slavic languages as a translation of the Greek name Leon, meaning 'lion'.
- It is the original Russian first name of famed author Leo Tolstoy, who was born Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy.