Lev
Male nameSlavic
✨ Meaning
Lev is the Russian word for lion and the standard Russian equivalent of Leo. It is also a Hebrew word meaning heart, used as a given name in Israel, so the same three letters carry two entirely different meanings in two unrelated languages. In both traditions the name is short, direct and carries no diminutive softening, which gives it an unusual weight for a single syllable.
🌍 Origin
The novelist known in English as Leo Tolstoy was Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy in Russian, and the goalkeeper Lev Yashin remains one of the most celebrated figures in Soviet sport. The name has been used across Russia, Ukraine and the Czech lands for centuries, and the Hebrew Lev is increasingly chosen in Israel and in Jewish communities abroad.
⭐ Famous People Named Lev
- Lev Tolstoy
- Lev Yashin
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lev mean?
In Russian Lev means lion. In Hebrew the same spelling means heart, and both are used as given names.
Is Lev the same as Leo?
Lev is the Russian equivalent of Leo and translates the same way, though the two words are not etymologically related.
How is Lev pronounced?
It is one syllable, LYEF in Russian with a softened l and a devoiced final consonant, and LEV in Hebrew and English.