The name Levi is of Hebrew origin, meaning "joined," "attached," or "joined in harmony," derived from the verb lawa (to join or connect). It's a significant biblical name, belonging to the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the ancestor of the priestly Levites, symbolizing connection and spiritual service. Today, it's a popular name with strong historical roots, also known for its association with Levi Strauss & Co. jeans, giving it a classic yet contemporary feel.
Levi, meaning joining or uniting, signifies, in the body, feeling; in the soul, sympathy; in the spirit, love. Therefore when love is expressed through the body as feeling, apart from love's dominion, violence may result instead of kindness and unselfishness and an irresistible power for good.
Levi is the third son of Jacob and Leah. According to the book of Genesis, it means "this time my husband will cling to me because I have given him three sons". Leah gave him this name because she still hoped her husband would love her.
Levi is also considered to be a diminutive of the Hungarian name Levente, which means "hero." And, though historically unrelated to its use as a personal name, Levi does share etymological roots with the biblical sea serpent figure Leviathan. This timeless name was also an alias of the apostle Saint Matthew.
This meaning can be interpreted as a spiritual connection between people, and also as a connection between people and God. The name Levi also has roots in the Hebrew word “lev,” which means “heart,” emphasizing the importance of emotional and spiritual connection.
How Popular Is the Name Levi? As of 2024, Levi was the 12th most popular boy name in America, per the Social Security Administration. 1 It's the most popular the name has been since 1880, when the Social Security Administration's records began.
Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector, to be His disciple. Pharisees and others didn't think Levi was worthy of Jesus' invitation, yet he becomes just one of the 12 disciples Jesus has, and is who we know to be Matthew.
Rare Baby Boy Names
Common Nicknames for Levi
Italian: from the old personal name Levi, a short form of Allevi, an omen or well-wishing name shortened from Dio l'allevi 'Lord relieves it'.
Levi was a wealthy man, and you know he wasn't tithing. But when Jesus came to him, a man who routinely stole from God and his own people, Jesus called him to be His disciple. Jesus called him to write the first of the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Genesis 49:5-7 “Simeon and Levi are brothers – their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel!
In some apocryphal texts such as the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, and the Book of Jubilees, Levi's wife, his children's mother, is named as Milkah, a daughter of Aram, but according to the Book of Jasher, the name of Levi's wife was Adinah.
Bareket (Emerald) – The green gem of Levi, the wise.
In the case of Levi, although he rightly wanted justice for the actions against his sister, takes the avenging too far. He forgets that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35). Because of this, his future descendants, though many, would end up scattered. Levi wasn't without flaws.
The number one boys' name varies slightly by region and year, but Noah, Liam, and Oliver consistently rank at the top globally, with Noah leading in many places like the US and Australia (NSW/ACT), while Oliver is a long-running favorite in Australia overall, and Liam often tops lists in the US.
Our Favorite Edgy Boy Name Ideas
Cool: Ambrose, Creed, Ender, Leon, Wolf. Dark: Blade, Damon, Jett, Kaine, Storm. Unique: Arlo, Balor, Calix, Draco, Syrus. Tough: Axel, Blaze, Brock, Carver, Diesel.
These are some of the most loved and best-flowing middle names for Levi:
The number one boys' name varies slightly by region and year, but Noah, Liam, and Oliver consistently rank at the top globally, with Noah leading in many places like the US and Australia (NSW/ACT), while Oliver is a long-running favorite in Australia overall, and Liam often tops lists in the US.
Here are some baby boy names, unique enough to stand out, while still fitting in with today's trends.
The least popular boys' names of 2023
Consequently, Jesus received his DNA from the Blessed Mother, Mary and, by extension, her direct ancestors.
After the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Jewish people made and worshipped a golden calf. Click here to read the entire story. The only tribe that did not participate in this shameful act was the tribe of Levi. At this time, the firstborn lost their special status, and it was transferred to the Levites.
As a Jewish tax collector, Levi would have been considered a traitor and unworthy to be chosen to follow Jesus by many Jews. Of course, once Levi accepts the call to follow Jesus, he is known as only Matthew, meaning “Yahweh's gift.” For this reason, most believe Matthew was Levi's Christian name.