A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Leva since 1883
Babies named Leva per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Leva's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 38 |
| 1890s | 94 |
| 1900s | 132 |
| 1910s | 176 |
| 1920s | 187 |
| 1930s | 86 |
| 1940s | 46 |
| 1950s | 18 |
| 1960s | 16 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 30 |
Meaning & origin
Leva is a rare feminine given name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Olive or Levi. Its recorded U.S. usage began in 1883, though it never achieved widespread popularity; its peak year occurred in 1901. After decades of obscurity, the name has shown signs of a revival, with a rising trajectory since 2019. As of 2025, Leva ranks 11,932, with an estimated 1 in 229,610 births bearing the name. The name's revival aligns with a broader trend of reviving vintage names from the 1900s decade.
Leva is a rare given name of uncertain origin. It may have emerged as a diminutive of Olive or Olivia, names associated with the olive tree, or as a feminine form of Levi, a Hebrew name meaning 'joined' or 'attached.' Alternatively, it could be a modern coinage. The name saw modest use in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its peak in 1901.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lee, Evie, Vava
Sibling names for Leva
Names that share Leva's style, for a brother or sister.
