Lev

Lev - A very unique male name

Lev appeared on the charts for the first time in 2000 on position #3680. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Lev and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Lev? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Lev. The baby boy name Lev was given to 186 baby boys in 2025, ranking #985 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,883 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Lev peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 985.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Lev, 1-5?

Lev is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Lev is currently topping the baby name charts in New York at position #414 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,847.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Lev is where you live.

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Lev origin and meaning

Hebrew and Slavic — two origins

Lev carries two distinct, documented meanings: in Hebrew, lev means 'heart'; in Russian and Slavic use, Lev means 'lion,' from Greek Leon via German Leo traditions

Lev is a rare case of one spelling with two real, separate origins: a Hebrew word-name meaning 'heart,' and the Russian name Lev, 'lion,' borne by Tolstoy (Lev Nikolayevich) and the great goalkeeper Lev Yashin. American use dates only from 2000 and has risen steadily to its highest point in 2025, fitting the fashion for short, strong boy names.

Origin uncertain

Lev is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Lev, pop culture references for the name Lev and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Lev

We've found the following names that sound similar to Lev, sorted by popularity.

Levi / Leif / Lupe / Levy / Lipa / Leib / Liev / Luby / Lavi / Levie /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Lev

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Lev a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Lev?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

LEHV · /lɛv/
Russian Lev is one crisp syllable; some English speakers lengthen it toward LEEV or LEHV — readings vary by community.

Around the world

• Lev (Russian) — The Russian form meaning 'lion'
• Lev (Hebrew) — The Hebrew word-name meaning 'heart'
• Lev (Ukrainian) — Used as-is in Ukraine, also 'lion'

Spellings and nicknames

• Levi — A similar biblical name, but a different name, not a variant

Famous bearers

• Lev Tolstoy — Russian novelist, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina — known in English as Leo Tolstoy, Lev in Russian (1828–1910) Historical
• Lev Yashin — Soviet goalkeeper, widely considered the greatest goalkeeper in football history (1929–1990) Historical

Style

InternationalShort form

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Lev for three letters with two beautiful meanings — heart in Hebrew, lion in Russian. It feels literary, strong and quietly international.

Worth knowing

• People will assume it is short for Levi or Levin and 'complete' it
• Which Lev — heart or lion — is a question the family should be ready to answer