Rising since 1985, #12 for boys today.
Popularity of Levi since 1880
Babies named Levi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 927 |
| 1890s | 685 |
| 1900s | 664 |
| 1910s | 1,773 |
| 1920s | 2,396 |
| 1930s | 1,842 |
| 1940s | 1,774 |
| 1950s | 1,997 |
| 1960s | 1,501 |
| 1970s | 3,798 |
| 1980s | 12,648 |
| 1990s | 20,408 |
| 2000s | 29,477 |
| 2010s | 78,001 |
| 2020s | 57,122 |
Meaning & origin
Levi carries an unusual double life: the priestly tribe of the Hebrew Bible on one hand, the world's most famous jeans label on the other. That mix of scripture and Americana helps explain its trajectory. Present in the national data since 1880 but never fashionable for the first century of record-keeping, Levi began a long, steep climb in the mid-1980s and crested at its all-time high in 2022.
It has barely cooled since. In 2025 Levi ranked No. 12 nationally, given to roughly one of every 177 newborn boys. Its strongest states: Wyoming, Maine, and Hawaii, sketch a rural and outdoorsy map rather than a Bible Belt one, consistent with the name's frontier, denim-and-workboots texture. Parents who shortlist Levi tend to also weigh Liam, Judah, and Silas: two-syllable names that end crisply and need no nickname.
In Genesis, Levi is the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the text itself connects the name to the Hebrew root lawah, "to join, be attached", Leah's hope that her husband would now be attached to her. Scholars note this is the Bible's own wordplay and the ultimate derivation may be older and less certain. Levi's descendants, the Levites, became Israel's priestly tribe, and in the New Testament Levi is the original name of the apostle Matthew. Puritans revived it in the seventeenth century, and in America the denim company founded by Levi Strauss gave the name a durable, workwear-flavored familiarity. After decades as a steady mid-chart name, it began climbing sharply in the 1980s.
Read more: Levi on Wikipedia
Where Levi is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Levi” around the world
Where Levi lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
90
babies in 2024
Ireland
#83
in 2025
New Zealand
#22
in 2025
Quebec
#75
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#8
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lev
Famous people named Levi
- Levi Strauss · founder of the blue-jeans company Levi Strauss & Co.
- Levi Eshkol · third prime minister of Israel
- Levi Coffin · Quaker abolitionist prominent in the Underground Railroad
Sibling names for Levi
Names that share Levi's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Ada, Willow, Eden, Hazel, Lucy, Ava, Chloe, Delilah, Sadie, Callie, Della, Shiloh, Adina, Adira, Areli, Arie, Atara, Aviva, Bethel, Carmel, Eliora, Hosanna, Jemima, Laya, Leora, Mercy, Navi, Noa, Patience, Salome, Sarai, Sariah, Selah, Shani, Shayna, Ayvah, Bliss, Chany, Daja, Devora, Elizah, Hermon, Keilah, Keziah, Loran, Mahalia, Mali, Meira, Naomy, Nava, Neta, Riva, Sari, Shekinah, Shifra, Sima, Talya, Tari, Temple, Tova, Yancy, Zandra, Zipporah, Ziva, Abra, Anina, Arah, Ary, Asenath, Atarah, Aveyah, Aviah, Avigayil, Aviya, Avri, Aza, Bethlehem, Electa, Eliani, Eline, Esty, Gal, Gila, Jasani, Jerusalem, Judea, Kalinda, Klani, Korah, Lalah, Leva, Levonia, Magaline, Mailee, Maranatha, Meriah, Miri, Mushka, Netanya, Nomi, Olinda, Rifky, Roizy, Saydie, Sheba, Toba, Zaiah, Ziona, Zissy, Zoriah, Adiya, Ameri, Areil, Ariely, Arrayah, Avriel, Azarie, Azariya, Blyss, Davita, Deliliah, Devra, Dorcus, Efrata, Elaria, Elaya, Ezlyn, Hava, Jasa, Levenia, Levia, Libi, Mazzy, Mieka, Milanna, Moriyah, Navah, Nayvee, Nehemie, Prudie, Ramah, Rechel, Ruah, Sefora, Seylah, Sheyna, Taeya, Tahara, Tirza, Torah, Tovah, Yaeli, Zeva, Zilla, Zivah, Myli, Zabdi, Achsah, Akacia, Asherah, Atzi, Avayla, Carmi, Ellani, Etana, Hadasah, Hanni, Havah, Hilinai, Ileta, Isaly, Jemina, Joci, Judaea, Leeani, Liyat, Maeci, Malanii, Malanni, Malyna, Mathea, Merriam, Mikaiah, Navie, Nianna, Niayla, Orpah, Reizy, Ruhama, Saveah, Shaynah, Sheva, Tanith, Tenna, Teva, Traeh, Vana, Vaya, Yeva, Zaylia, Zeeva, Zehava, Zeidy, Zilah
Brothers: Judah, Asher, Silas, Ezra, Micah, Elias, Isaac, Noah, Wyatt, Adriel, Ari, Asa, Cohen, Eli, Noe, Ruben, Tobias, Uriel, Abner, Aziel, Canaan, Deacon, Eliel, Eliezer, Elihu, Ephraim, Gerson, Hiram, Izrael, Jed, Jericho, Joziah, Kohen, Kyrie, Mack, Mahlon, Mikah, Misael, Mordechai, Ori, Reuben, Rubin, Samson, Simeon, Wiley, Yael, Zion, Amiel, Azriel, Barnett, Bram, Corban, Eitan, Eliazar, Elie, Esdras, Ezrah, Heber, Hillel, Huck, Isaak, Isom, Izaak, Jae, Jeb, Jeshua, Jethro, Kain, Kobi, Lazarus, Lige, Meir, Mordecai, Nahum, Natan, Noam, Oziel, Raziel, Rueben, Sammuel, Sampson, Uri, Yancey, Yeshua, Yoel, Zacchaeus, Zev, Abijah, Able, Adlai, Ascher, Azel, Cobi, Dayan, Easten, Eliaz, Elige, Eligh, Ellias, Elyon, Emet, Emit, Esiah, Eytan, Eziah, Ezriel, Gershon, Gomer, Isham, Isrrael, Ja, Jabez, Jabin, Jachin, Jezreel, Joah, Jobie, Josyah, Juda, Judas, Kanaan, Levie, Malichi, Nachman, Naftoli, Nahom, Namon, Neithan, Neizan, Othniel, Raffi, Shem, Syon, Tobiah, Uriyah, Wolfe, Yareth, Yonah, Zadok, Zekiel, Zephan, Zeth, Aizik, Allon, Amish, Amrom, Anav, Arieon, Asriel, Axiel, Azarius, Azavier, Calel, Cane, Cannan, Cauy, Cruze, Eilam, Elai, Elikai, Eluzer, Ezel, Ezeriah, Ezran, Helaman, Huriel, Izaya, Izick, Jafeth, Jayvier, Jehiel, Joas, Kaleab, Kodah, Manoah, Matthan, Meilech, Merek, Mycah, Phares, Reuven, Romari, Samule, Tavi, Trampus, Tuck, Urie, Yaphet, Zaiel, Zeal, Zeek, Asar, Aser, Eithen, Aaro, Acari, Adoni, Adryel, Aleph, Amram, Arieh, Asah, Ashyr, Axzel, Azi, Baruc, Bezalel, Cyrie, Deyvi, Edrei, Eliahs, Elizer, Elroi, Enock, Esaul, Ezael, Ezaiah, Gad, Gedeon, Gid, Issachar, Izmael, Izzak, Jefte, Jeshurun, Jkai, Kainoah, Kaiyr, Kaliel, Lavie, Malacai, Meshilem, Naftula, Nahun, Nephtali, Noan, Noeh, Ory, Rjay, Roey, Ronith, Ruven, Savir, Selig, Thadd, Tzion, Yahweh, Yasiah, Zakkai, Zalyn, Zevi
Names like Levi
Names whose popularity has moved with Levi's over the last 50 years.
