Lev

♂ Boy

Pronounced LEV /lɛv/High

Meaning: Heart; from Hebrew lev (heart); or lion, from Russian/Slavic lev (lion)High

In 30 seconds: A one-syllable name meaning 'heart' in Hebrew and 'lion' in Russian/Slavic. Borne by the great novelist Leo (Lev) Tolstoy and the revolutionary Leon (Lev) Trotsky, it is both literary and political at once.

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Origin HighHebrew, Russian

MeaningHeart; from Hebrew lev (heart); or lion, from Russian/Slavic lev (lion)

U.S. rank (2025)#1001 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births227 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,997

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lev has two independent roots: Hebrew lev (heart, the seat of emotion and thought) and Slavic/Russian lev (lion). In Hebrew names, lev appears in Levav (heart) and similar forms. In Russian the name became Leo in Western transliterations.

Lev has appeared in Jewish American and Eastern European communities. It ranked #1040 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? The name Leo, Lev, and Leon are all forms of the same lion concept across different languages — Latin leo, Hebrew and Slavic lev, all meaning lion. And Tolstoy's real first name was Lev, not Leo — meaning the Russian master went by his native name throughout his life.

Overall data confidence 91%

Behind the Name — Lev — Hebrew/Slavic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LeoLeon

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Leo Tolstoy (Lev Nikolayevich) (1828–1910)
Russian novelist, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. His given name was Lev, rendered as Leo in Western transliterations.

If you like Lev…

Leo— the Latin/Western form of the same lion meaning

Leon— the Greek form of the same lion root

Levi— Hebrew L-name with the same quiet strength

Avi— Hebrew one-syllable name with the same Jewish heritage

Eli— Hebrew one-syllable name with the same crisp, ancient quality

Explore names like Lev

By themehebrew literary one-syllable slavic lion

By meaningLion

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lev mean?

Lev means 'heart' in Hebrew and 'lion' in Russian/Slavic. These are two independent origins that share the same form.

How do you pronounce Lev?

It's said LEV — one syllable, rhyming with 'bev.'

Is Lev a boy or girl name?

Lev is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Lev?

Lev ranked #1040 for U.S. boys in 2024.