Levi
Levi was the 12th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 9,642 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 30 places. More babies were named Levi in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew
Say it LEE-vy /ˈlivaɪ/
- Rank in 2025
- #12 boys, up 6 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 9,642boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20229,869 babies
- Total since 1880
- 216,440babies recorded
What does the name Levi mean?
Levi is the name of Jacob and Leah's third son, ancestor of the priestly tribe of Levi. Wiktionary calls the Hebrew name of uncertain origin. In Genesis 29:34 Leah explains it with a pun on a verb meaning 'to become attached', hoping her husband will be joined to her. That is a traditional explanation, not a proven derivation.
לֵוִי (Biblical Hebrew, “Lēwî”)
How sure is this? Uncertain.
See also: Hebrew names.
Levi popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,427 since 1929, 71 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12 | 9,642 |
| 2020 | #18 | 9,098 |
| 2010 | #70 | 6,027 |
| 2000 | #172 | 2,200 |
| 1990 | #180 | 1,719 |
| 1980 | #226 | 1,057 |
| 1970 | #682 | 147 |
| 1960 | #589 | 176 |
| 1950 | #486 | 192 |
| 1940 | #454 | 164 |
| 1930 | #421 | 196 |
| 1920 | #375 | 255 |
| 1910 | #300 | 69 |
| 1900 | #199 | 95 |
| 1890 | #181 | 74 |
| 1880 | #118 | 112 |
How popular is Levi, counting every spelling?
Levi is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #14 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #12 for Levi on its own. Together these spellings went to 9,667 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levi | 9,642 | #12 | 48,024 |
| Leevi | 25 | #4,203 | 127 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Levi?
9,642 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Levi (2.67 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Levi born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 20. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, a typical elementary school of 430 pupils would have about 1.1 children named Levi.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Levi?
About 201,700 people born in the US named Levi are alive today, with a median age of 12; half are between 6 and 21. That makes Levi a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Levi by state
How common Levi was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Vermont (2.4×), Maine (2.0×), Wyoming (2.0×), Alaska (1.9×), New Hampshire (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, District of Columbia, New York.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Levi: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Levi, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Levi · Sibling names for Levi
Questions about the name Levi
What does Levi mean?
The origin of Levi is uncertain.
How popular is the name Levi?
Levi was the 12th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 9,642 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 30 places. More babies were named Levi in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Levi a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Levi in the US.
Where is Levi most popular?
In 2021–2025, Levi was most common in Vermont (13.54 per 1,000 boys), followed by Maine and Wyoming.