Levin

♂ Boy

Pronounced LEV-in /ˈlɛv.ɪn/High

Meaning: Dear friend; beloved friendHigh

In 30 seconds: Levin is a Germanic name from Old High German Leobwin, meaning 'dear friend.' It is also used as a given name derived from the Jewish surname Levin, itself from Hebrew Levi.

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Origin HighOld High German, Hebrew

MeaningDear friend; beloved friend

U.S. rank (2025)#3023 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births41 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2011

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,692

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

Old High German leob (beloved, dear) combined with win (friend) produced Leobwin, which contracted to Levin in medieval Germany. The name was common among German and Low German speakers through the medieval period.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Levin also became a given name among Jewish families whose surname was Levin (from Levi, meaning 'joined' in Hebrew). Both traditions give the name depth. Levin remains popular in Germany, Scandinavia, and among Jewish diaspora communities.

Did you know? Levin is the Russian and German Jewish surname form of Levi — one of the twelve tribes of Israel — and has been used across Ashkenazi communities for centuries, giving it an ancient Hebraic layer beneath its German surface.

Overall data confidence 82%

Deutsches Namenbuch — Leobwin/Levin Old High German etymologyBehind the Name — Levin as Germanic and Jewish given name

Variations

LeviLevineLefwinLeobwin

Nicknames

Lev

Famous Bearers

★Levin August von Bennigsen (1745–1826)
German-born general who served Russia and fought Napoleon at the battles of Eylau and Borodino.

If you like Levin…

Levi— closest Hebrew root variant and sound match

Lennon— two-syllable name with similar vowel pattern

Leon— two-syllable European name of comparable vintage feel

Efrain— shares Levin's Hebrew roots

Orin— shares the -in ending

Explore names like Levin

By themehebrew surname-name classic german jewish european medieval

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Levin mean?

Levin means 'dear friend' from Old High German Leobwin (leob = beloved + win = friend). It is also used as a given name derived from the Jewish surname Levin (from Hebrew Levi, 'joined').

How do you pronounce Levin?

Levin is pronounced LEV-in, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Levin a boy or girl name?

Levin is used as a boy's name in both Germanic and Jewish traditions.

How popular is Levin?

Levin is moderately common in Germany and Scandinavia, and occasionally used among Jewish families in the US and elsewhere.