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At a Glance: Name: Lev – Meaning: lion (Slavic, cognate with Latin leo); separately, 'heart' in Hebrew and Yiddish – Origin: Slavic/Russian; separately Hebrew – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: LEV
Lev is a boy's name with Slavic and Russian roots, pronounced LEV, and it verifiably means "lion." You might come across the claim that Lev means "lion heart," but that's not accurate — it blends two separate origins: the Slavic name meaning "lion" and the unrelated Hebrew and Yiddish word lev, which separately means "heart." They don't combine into one meaning. With a clean, modern feel, it's a short, clean choice for parents drawn to that kind of name.
Meaning & Origin of Lev
Meaning: Lion (slavic, cognate with latin leo); separately, 'heart' in hebrew and yiddish.
Origin: Slavic/Russian; separately Hebrew.
A common claim: Lev means 'lion heart' Actually: This blends two unrelated etymologies as if they combine: the Slavic name means 'lion' while the Hebrew word lev separately means 'heart' — they aren't literally one compound meaning.
Source: Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lev
Phonetic: LEV IPA: /ˈlɛv/
Popularity of Lev
Lev's biggest year on record was 2019, when it ranked #1005 with 208 babies given the name; by 2024 it stood at #1040, with 213 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1971–2024.
Make Lev Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lev, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Lev mean?
Lion (slavic, cognate with latin leo); separately, ‘heart’ in hebrew and yiddish. (Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_(name))
How do you pronounce Lev?
Lev is pronounced LEV (IPA: /ˈlɛv/).
Is Lev a popular name right now?
Lev is near its all-time peak (#1005 in 2019), ranked #1040 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1971–2024.)
📊 How popular is Lev? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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