Masculine Names

gender
usage
Kublai m History
From the Mongolian name Khubilai, of unknown meaning. Kublai Khan was a 13th-century grandson of Genghis Khan (being the son of his son Tolui), and the fifth ruler of the Mongol Empire. He is also considered the first ruler of the Chinese Yuan dynasty.
Kudret m Turkish
Means "power, might" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian.
Kujtim m Albanian
Means "memory, remembrance" in Albanian.
K'uk'ulkan m Mayan Mythology
Means "feathered serpent", from Classic Maya k'uk' "quetzal, quetzal feather" and kaan "serpent, snake". This was the name of a snake god in Maya mythology, roughly equivalent to the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. This is the Yucatec Maya form — the K'iche' name is Q'uq'umatz (which is only partially cognate).
Kulap f & m Thai
Means "rose" in Thai (of Persian origin).
Kuldeep m Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit कुल (kula) meaning "family" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".
Kullervo m Finnish, Finnish Mythology
Derived from Finnish kulta "gold". In the Finnish epic the Kalevala this is the name of tragic character, a young man who seeks revenge on his uncle Untamo for destroying his tribe and selling him into slavery.
Kumara m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit कुमार (kumāra) meaning "boy, son". In Hindu texts this is an epithet of both the fire god Agni and the war god Skanda.
Kumaran m Tamil, Malayalam
Tamil and Malayalam variant of Kumara.
Kumbukani m & f Chewa
Means "remember" in Chewa.
Kun f & m Chinese
From Chinese (kūn) meaning "earth, female", as well as other characters with a similar pronunciation.
Kunala m Sanskrit
Means "lotus" in Sanskrit. This was the name of a son of the 3rd-century BC Indian emperor Ashoka.
Kunibert m German (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German element kunni "clan, family" (or the related prefix kuni "royal") and beraht "bright". Saint Kunibert was a 7th-century bishop of Cologne.
Kuno m German, Germanic
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element kunni meaning "clan, family". It can also be a short form of Konrad.
Kunzang m & f Tibetan, Bhutanese
Means "all good, ever excellent" in Tibetan.
Kuro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 九郎 (see Kurō).
Kurō m Japanese
From Japanese (ku) meaning "nine" and () meaning "son". This name was traditionally given to the ninth son. Other combinations of kanji characters are also possible.
Kurosh m Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian کورش (see Kourosh).
Kurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 九郎 (see Kurō).
Kurt m German, English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
German contracted form of Conrad. A famous bearer was the American musician Kurt Cobain (1967-1994).
Kurtis m English
Variant of Curtis.
Kurush m Old Persian
Old Persian form of Cyrus.
Kustaa m Finnish
Finnish form of Gustav.
Kusti m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Kustaa or Aukusti.
Kusuma m & f Indonesian
Derived from Sanskrit कुसुम (kusuma) meaning "flower".
Kuwat m Javanese
Means "strong" in Javanese.
Kuzey m Turkish
Means "north" in Turkish.
Kuzma m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Cosmas.
Kuzman m Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian
Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian form of Cosmas.
Květoslav m Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements květŭ "flower" and slava "glory".
Kvetoslav m Slovak
Slovak form of Květoslav.
Kvido m Czech
Czech form of Wido.
Kwabena m Akan
Means "born on Tuesday" in Akan.
Kwadwo m Akan
Means "born on Monday" in Akan.
Kwaku m Akan
Means "born on Wednesday" in Akan.
Kwame m Akan
Means "born on Saturday" in Akan.
Kwasi m Akan
Means "born on Sunday" in Akan.
Kweku m Akan
Variant of Kwaku.
Kwesi m Akan
Variant of Kwasi.
Kyauta m & f Hausa
Means "gift" in Hausa.
Kylan m English (Modern)
Invented name based on the sounds found in other names such as Kyle and Rylan.
Kyle m English
From a Scottish surname that was derived from various place names, themselves from Gaelic caol meaning "narrows, channel, strait". As a given name it was rare in the first half of the 20th century. It rose steadily in popularity throughout the English-speaking world, entering the top 50 in most places by the 1990s. It has since declined in all regions.
Kyler m English (Modern)
Probably a blend of the sounds of Kyle and Tyler. It also coincides with the surname Kyler, an Anglicized form of Dutch Cuyler.
Kylian m French
French variant of Cillian.
Kyllian m French
French variant of Killian.
Kylo m Popular Culture
Meaning unexplained. This is the name of the villain, Kylo Ren, in the Star Wars movie sequels, starting with The Force Awakens in 2015. Originally named Ben Solo, he is the son of Han Solo and Leia Skywalker. His name might simply be formed from the ky of Skywalker and the lo of Solo.
Kynaston m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "Cynefrið's town" in Old English.
Kyo m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji or or or (see Kyō).
Kyō m & f Japanese
From Japanese (kyō) meaning "unite, cooperate", (kyō) meaning "capital city", (kyō) meaning "village", (kyō) meaning "apricot", or other kanji with the same pronunciation.
Kyösti m Finnish
Finnish form of Gustav.
Kyou m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji or or or (see Kyō).
Kyran m Irish
Variant of Kieran.
Kyrie 1 m African American (Modern)
Invented name, based on the sounds found in names such as Tyree and Kyle. It was popularized as a masculine name by American basketball player Kyrie Irving (1992-).
Kyrillos m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Cyril.
Kyros m Old Persian (Hellenized), Biblical Greek
Greek form of Old Persian Kuruš (see Cyrus).
Kyrylo m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Cyril.
Kyson m English (Modern)
An invented name, using the same sound found in names such as Bryson and Tyson.
Kyung m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Gyeong).
Laban m Biblical
Derived from Hebrew לָבָן (lavan) meaning "white". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of Rachel and Leah.
Labhrann m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Laurence 1.
Labhrás m Irish
Irish form of Laurence 1.
Lacedaemon m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Λακεδαίμων (Lakedaimon), the Greek name of the city-state also commonly called Sparta. According to Greek mythology Lacedaemon, a son of Zeus, was the founder of Sparta.
Lacey f & m English
Variant of Lacy. This is currently the most popular spelling of this name.
Lachie m Scottish
Diminutive of Lachlan.
Lachlan m Scottish, English
Anglicized form of Lachlann, the Scottish Gaelic form of Lochlainn. In the English-speaking world, this name was especially popular in Australia towards the end of the 20th century.
Lachlann m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Lochlainn.
Lachtna m Irish (Rare)
From Old Irish Lachtnae meaning "milk-coloured", from lacht "milk" (borrowed from Latin). This was the name of a great-grandfather of the Irish king Brian Boru.
Lachtnae m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Lachtna.
Laci 1 m Hungarian
Diminutive of László.
Lacy f & m English
From a surname that was derived from Lassy, the name of a town in Normandy. The name of the town was Gaulish in origin, perhaps deriving from a personal name that was Latinized as Lascius. Formerly more common for boys in America, this name began to grow in popularity for girls in 1975.
Ladislao m Spanish, Italian (Rare)
Spanish and Italian form of Vladislav.
Ladislas m French
French form of Vladislav.
Ladislau m Romanian, Portuguese
Romanian and Portuguese form of Vladislav.
Ladislaus m Medieval Slavic (Latinized)
Medieval Latinized form of Vladislav.
Ladislav m Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian and Serbian variant of Vladislav.
Lado m Georgian
Short form of Vladimer.
Lael m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "of God" in Hebrew. This is the name of the father of Eliasaph in the Old Testament. It is misspelled as Δαήλ (Dael) in the Greek translation, the Septuagint.
Laelius m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Laelia.
Laertes m Greek Mythology
Means "gatherer of the people" in Greek. This is the name of the father of Odysseus in Greek mythology. It was later utilized by Shakespeare for a character in his tragedy Hamlet (1600), in which he is the son of Polonius. His ultimate duel with Hamlet leads to both of their deaths.
Lage m Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian form of Lauge.
Lailoken m History
From medieval Latin Laloecen, possibly related to Welsh llallo meaning "brother, friend". This name appears in medieval tales about Saint Kentigern, borne by a prophetic madman at the court of Rhydderch Hael. He may form a basis for Myrddin, who is addressed as llallogan by his sister Gwenddydd in the Red Book of Hergest.
Laios m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Laius.
Laird m English (Rare)
From a Scottish surname meaning "landowner" in Scots.
Laius m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Λάϊος (Laios), which is of unknown meaning. This was the name of a king of Thebes in Greek mythology, the husband of Jocasta. Due to a prophecy that he would be killed by his son, Laius left his infant Oedipus for dead. The boy survived but was ignorant of his true parentage. Years later he unwittingly killed Laius in a quarrel on the road.
Lajos m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Louis. It was borne by two Hungarian kings, starting with the 14th-century Lajos I the Great, who was named after his French uncle.
Lake m & f English (Rare)
From the English word lake, for the inland body of water. It is ultimately derived from Latin lacus.
Lakedaimon m Greek Mythology
Original Greek form of Lacedaemon.
Lakshmana m Hinduism
Means "having lucky marks" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Ramayana he is the younger brother and trusted companion of the hero Rama, accompanying him into exile.
Lakshmi f & m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Odia
Means "sign, mark" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of prosperity, good luck, and beauty. She is the wife of Vishnu and her symbol is the lotus flower, with which she is often depicted.
Lal m Hindi, Nepali
Means "boy" in Hindi, derived from Sanskrit लल (lala) meaning "playing, caressing".
Lalawethika m Shawnee
Means "he makes noise" in Shawnee. This was another name of the Shawnee leader Tenskwatawa (1775-1836).
Lalit m Hindi, Marathi
Masculine form of Lalita.
Lalo m Spanish
Diminutive of Eduardo.
Lamar m English, African American
From a French and English surname, originally from a place name in Normandy, which was derived from Old French la mare meaning "the pool". In the second half of the 20th century this name has been well-used in the African-American community, probably because of its popular phonetic components la and mar.
Lambaer m Limburgish
Limburgish form of Lambert. Its spelling has been influenced by the French pronunciation of Lambert.
Lambert m German, Dutch, French, English, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements lant "land" and beraht "bright". Saint Lambert of Maastricht was a 7th-century bishop who was martyred after denouncing Pepin II for adultery. The name was also borne by a 9th-century king of Italy who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
Lamberto m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Lambert.
Lamech m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Possibly means "to make low" in Hebrew. This is the name of two characters in Genesis in the Old Testament, the first being a descendant of Cain, and the second being a descendant of Seth and the father of Noah.
Lammert m Dutch
Dutch variant of Lambert.
Lamont m English, African American
From a Scottish surname that was derived from the medieval Gaelic given name Lagmann, itself from Old Norse lǫgmaðr meaning "law man". This name reached a peak in its American popularity in 1972, the same year that the sitcom Sanford and Son debuted, featuring the character Lamont Sanford (the titular son).
Lan 1 f & m Chinese, Vietnamese
From Chinese (lán) meaning "orchid, elegant" (which is usually only feminine) or (lán) meaning "mountain mist". Other Chinese characters can form this name as well. As a Vietnamese name, it is derived from Sino-Vietnamese meaning "orchid".
Lan 2 m Slovene
Slovene short form of Milan.
Lance m English
From the Germanic name Lanzo, originally a short form of names that began with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element land, Old High German lant meaning "land" (Proto-Germanic *landą). During the Middle Ages it became associated with Old French lance meaning "spear, lance". A famous bearer is American cyclist Lance Armstrong (1971-).
Lancelot m Arthurian Cycle
Possibly an Old French diminutive of Lanzo (see Lance). In Arthurian legend Lancelot was the bravest of the Knights of the Round Table. He became the lover of Arthur's wife Guinevere, ultimately causing the destruction of Arthur's kingdom. His earliest appearance is in the works of the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes: briefly in Erec and Enide and then as a main character in Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart.
Landebert m Germanic
Old German form of Lambert.
Lando m Italian
Italian form of Lanzo (see Lance).
Landon m English
From a surname that was derived from an Old English place name meaning "long hill" (effectively meaning "ridge"). Use of the name may have been inspired in part by the actor Michael Landon (1936-1991).
Landric m Germanic
Germanic name derived from the elements lant "land" and rih "ruler, king".
Landry m French
French form of Landric. This name was borne by a few French saints, including a 5th-century bishop of Sées and a 7th-century bishop of Paris.
Landulf m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements lant meaning "land" and wolf meaning "wolf". This name was borne by several Lombard nobles.
Lane m English
From an English surname, meaning "lane, path", which originally belonged to a person who lived near a lane.
Lanford m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "long ford" in Old English.
Langdon m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of the surname Landon.
Langston m English
From an English surname, itself from a place name, derived from Old English lang "long" and stan "stone". A famous bearer was the American author Langston Hughes (1901-1967).
Lành m & f Vietnamese
Means "good, favourable, gentle" in Vietnamese.
Lanny m English
Diminutive of Lance, Landon and other names beginning with Lan.
Lanre m Yoruba
Short form of Olanrewaju.
Lanzo m Germanic
Old German form of Lance.
Laocoön m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Λαοκόων (Laokoon), derived from λαός (laos) meaning "people" and ἀκούω (akouo) meaning "to hear". In Greek mythology this was the name of a Trojan priest who warned against accepting the wooden horse left by the Greeks. He and his sons were strangled by sea serpents sent by the gods.
Laoghaire m Irish
Modern Irish form of Lóegaire.
Lapo m Italian
Diminutive of Jacopo.
Laquan m African American (Modern)
Combination of the phonetic elements la and quan. It can be spelled LaQuan or Laquan.
Lari m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Laurence 1 or Hilarius.
Larkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Laurence 1.
Larrie m English
Diminutive of Laurence 1.
Larry m English
Diminutive of Laurence 1. A notable bearer is former basketball player Larry Bird (1956-).
Lárus m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Laurence 1.
Lasha m Georgian
Possibly from a Northwest Caucasian word meaning "light". This was a name of Giorgi IV, a 13th-century king of Georgia.
LaShawn f & m African American
Combination of the popular prefix la with the name Shawn.
Lassana m Western African
Form of Al-Hasan used in parts of West Africa (especially Mali).
Lasse m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish
Scandinavian and Finnish form of Laurence 1.
Lassi m Finnish
Finnish form of Laurence 1.
László m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Vladislav. Saint László was an 11th-century king of Hungary, looked upon as the embodiment of Christian virtue and bravery.
Latheef m Dhivehi
Dhivehi form of Latif.
Lətif m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Latif.
Latif m Arabic, Urdu
Means "gentle, kind" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition اللطيف (al-Laṭīf) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Lau m Dutch
Dutch short form of Laurens.
Lauge m Danish
From a medieval short form of the Old Norse byname Félagi.
Launce m Literature
Short form of Launcelot, a variant of Lancelot. This was the name of a clownish character in Shakespeare's play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Launo m Finnish (Rare)
Possibly a Finnish diminutive of Klaus.
Laureano m Spanish
Spanish form of Laurianus.
Lauren f & m English
Variant or feminine form of Laurence 1. Originally a masculine name, it was first popularized as a feminine name by actress Betty Jean Perske (1924-2014), who used Lauren Bacall as her stage name.
Laurence 1 m English
From the Roman cognomen Laurentius, which meant "from Laurentum". Laurentum was a city in ancient Italy, its name probably deriving from Latin laurus "laurel". Saint Laurence was a 3rd-century deacon and martyr from Rome. According to tradition he was roasted alive on a gridiron because, when ordered to hand over the church's treasures, he presented the sick and poor. Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in the Christian world (in various spellings).... [more]
Laurens m Dutch
Dutch form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurent m French
French form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurentino m Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Laurentinus.
Laurentinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Laurentius (see Laurence 1). Saint Laurentinus was a 3rd-century martyr from Carthage.
Laurențiu m Romanian
Romanian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurenz m German
German form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lauri m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Laurianus m Late Roman
Roman name that was derived from Laurus. This was the name of a 6th-century saint, a bishop of Seville, who was martyred by the Arian Ostrogoths.
Laurids m Danish
Variant of Laurits.
Laurie f & m English, Dutch
Diminutive of Laura or Laurence 1.
Laurits m Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lauritz m Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lauro m Italian
Italian form of Laurus (see Laura).
Laurus m Late Roman
Original masculine form of Laura. It was borne by a 2nd-century saint and martyr from Illyricum.
Laurynas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lautaro m Mapuche (Hispanicized), Spanish (Latin American)
Hispanicized form of Mapuche Lef-Traru meaning "swift hawk", derived from lef "swift" and traru "hawk". This name was borne by a 16th-century Mapuche military leader who fought against the Spanish conquistadors in Chile.
Lavan m Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Laban.
Lavern m & f English
Variant of Laverne.
Laverne f & m English
From a French surname that was derived from a place name, ultimately from the Gaulish word vern "alder". It is sometimes associated with the Roman goddess Laverna or the Latin word vernus "of spring".
Lavi m Hebrew
Means "lion" in Hebrew.
Lavr m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Laurus (see Laura).
Lavrenti m Russian, Georgian
Alternate transcription of Russian Лаврентий (see Lavrentiy), as well as the Georgian form.
Lavrentios m Greek
Greek form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lavrentiy m Russian
Russian form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lavrenty m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Лаврентий (see Lavrentiy).
Law m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Laurence 1.
Lawal m Hausa
From Arabic أوّل (ʾawwal) meaning "first". It is sometimes added to the name of the first of multiple siblings who share the same given name.
Lawali m Hausa
Variant of Lawal.
Lawrence m English
Variant of Laurence 1. This spelling of the name is now more common than Laurence in the English-speaking world, probably because Lawrence is the usual spelling of the surname. The surname was borne by the author and poet D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930), as well as the revolutionary T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935), who was known as Lawrence of Arabia.
Lawson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Laurence 1".
Laxman m Marathi, Hindi, Telugu
Alternate transcription of Marathi/Hindi लक्ष्मण or Telugu లక్ష్మణ్ (see Lakshman).
Laxmi f & m Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Nepali
Alternate transcription of Telugu లక్ష్మి or Marathi/Hindi लक्ष्मी (see Lakshmi), as well as the most common Nepali transcription.
Layne m & f English
Variant of Lane.
Layton m English
From a surname that was originally derived from the name of English towns meaning "town with a leek garden" in Old English. Like similar-sounding names such as Peyton and Dayton, this name began rising in popularity in the 1990s.
Laz m English
Diminutive of Larry.
Lázár m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Lazarus.
Lazăr m Romanian
Romanian form of Lazarus.
Lazar m Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian
Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian and Macedonian form of Lazarus. This name was borne by a 14th-century Serbian ruler who was killed at the Battle of Kosovo.
Lazare m French
French form of Lazarus.
Lázaro m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Lazarus.
Lazarus m Biblical, Biblical Latin, English (African)
Latinized form of Λάζαρος (Lazaros), a Greek form of Eleazar used in the New Testament. Lazarus was a man from Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was restored to life by Jesus.... [more]
Lazer m Yiddish
Yiddish variant of Eliezer. This is the name of a character in the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1964).
Lazzaro m Italian
Italian form of Lazarus. In the past it was used as an Italian word meaning "leper".
Leander m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λέανδρος (Leandros), derived from λέων (leon) meaning "lion" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek legend Leander was the lover of Hero. Every night he swam across the Hellespont to meet her, but on one occasion he was drowned when a storm arose. When Hero saw his dead body she threw herself into the waters and perished.
Léandre m French
French form of Leander.
Leandro m Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Leander.
Leanid m Belarusian
Belarusian form of Leonidas.
Leão m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Leo and Leon.
Lear m Literature
Form of Leir used by Shakespeare for the title character of his tragic play King Lear (1606).
Leary m Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Laoghaire.
Lebanah m Biblical
Means "moon" in Hebrew, a poetic word derived from לָבָן (lavan) meaning "white". This name appears briefly in the Old Testament.
Leberecht m German (Rare)
Means "live rightly" from German lebe "live" and recht "right". This name was created in the 17th century.
Lebogang m & f Tswana
Means "be thankful" in Tswana.
Lebohang m & f Sotho
Means "be thankful" in Sotho.
LeBron m African American (Modern)
Probably an invented name, though it does coincide with the Spanish surname Lebrón, derived from liebre meaning "hare". This is the name of basketball player LeBron James (1984-).
Lech m Polish, Slavic Mythology
According to Polish legend this was the name of the founder of the Lechites, a group that includes the Poles. The name probably derives from that of the old Slavic tribe the Lendians, called the Lędzianie in Polish.... [more]
Lechosław m Polish
Derived from (possibly) the Polish name Lech combined with the Slavic element slava meaning "glory".
Lee m & f English
From a surname that was derived from Old English leah meaning "clearing". The surname belonged to Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), commander of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In his honour, it has been used as a given name in the American South. It is common as a middle name.
Leevi m Finnish
Finnish form of Levi.
Lefteris m Greek
Short form of Eleftherios.
Lef-Traru m Mapuche
Mapuche form of Lautaro.
Lefty m English
From a nickname, in most cases given to a left-handed person.
Legacy f & m English (Modern)
From the English word, meaning "something inherited from a predecessor, heritage". It is derived from Old French legacie, itself from Latin legatum "bequest, legacy".
Legend m English (Modern)
From the English word, referring to a story about the past (or by extension, a heroic character in such a story), ultimately from Latin legere "to read".
Legolas m Literature
Means "green leaves" in the fictional language Sindarin, from laeg "green" combined with go-lass "collection of leaves". In The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Legolas is the son of the elf lord Thranduil and a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Lehi m Mormon
From an Old Testament place name meaning "jawbone" in Hebrew, so called because it was the site where the hero Samson defeated 1,000 warriors using only the jawbone of a donkey as a weapon. It is also used in the Book of Mormon as the name of a prophet who travels out of Jerusalem and settles in the Americas.
Lehua f & m Hawaiian
Means "ohia flower" in Hawaiian.
Lei 1 m & f Hawaiian
Means "flowers, lei, child" in Hawaiian.
Lei 2 m & f Chinese
From Chinese (lěi) meaning "pile of stones" (which is typically masculine) or (lěi) meaning "bud" (typically feminine). Other characters can also form this name.
Leib m Yiddish
Means "lion" in Yiddish, from Old High German lewo. This is a vernacular form of Arieh.
Leif m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Leifr meaning "descendant, heir". Leif Eriksson was a Norse explorer who reached North America in the early 11th century. He was the son of Erik the Red.
Leifr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Leif.
Leifur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Leif.
Leigh f & m English
From a surname that was a variant of Lee.
Leighton f & m English
Variant of Layton. It jumped in popularity as a feminine name after 2007, when actress Leighton Meester (1986-) began appearing on the television series Gossip Girl.
Leigong m Chinese Mythology
Means "lord of thunder", from Chinese (léi) meaning "thunder" and (gōng) meaning "lord, prince". This is the name of a Chinese thunder god.
Leilani f & m Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flowers" or "royal child" from Hawaiian lei "flowers, lei, child" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Leir m Literature
The name of an early king of the Britons, according to the 12th-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Leir's name may be connected to the city where he reigned, Leicester (named Kaerleir by Geoffrey). Alternatively it might be derived from the name of the legendary Welsh figure Llŷr. The story of Leir and his daughters was later adapted by Shakespeare for his play King Lear (1606).
Leith m & f English (Rare)
From a surname, originally from the name of a Scottish town (now a district of Edinburgh), which is derived from Gaelic lìte "wet, damp". It is also the name of the river that flows though Edinburgh.
Leiv m Norwegian
Norwegian variant of Leif.
Lekan m Yoruba
Short form of Olamilekan.
Leland m English
From a surname, originally from an English place name, which meant "fallow land" in Old English. A famous bearer was the politician, businessman and Stanford University founder Leland Stanford (1824-1893).
Lelio m Italian
Italian form of Laelius (see Laelia).
Lelisa m Oromo
From Oromo leellisaa meaning "admirer".
Lelle m Swedish
Diminutive of Lennart.
Lemekh m Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Lamech.
Lemminkäinen m Finnish Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly related to Finnish lempi "love". In the Finnish epic the Kalevala this is the name of an arrogant hero. After he was killed his mother fetched his body from the River of Death and restored him to life. He is sometimes identified with the god Ahti.
Lemoine m English (Rare)
From a French surname meaning "the monk" in French.
Lemuel m Biblical, Mormon, Biblical Hebrew
Means "for God" in Hebrew, from the proposition לְמוֹ (lemo) combined with אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This was the name of a king briefly mentioned in Proverbs in the Old Testament. In the Book of Mormon it is the name of a rebellious son of Lehi and Sariah. It is also borne by the hero of Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels (1726).
Len m English
Short form of Leonard.
Lénárd m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Leonard.
Lenard m English
Variant of Leonard.
Lenart m Slovene
Slovene form of Leonard.
Lencho m Oromo
Means "lion" in Oromo.
Lenn m Dutch
Short form of Lennart.
Lennard m Dutch
Dutch variant of Leonard.
Lennart m Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian, Low German, Dutch
Swedish and Low German form of Leonard.
Lenni m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Lennart.
Lennie m & f English
Diminutive of Leonard, sometimes a feminine form.
Lennon m & f English (Modern)
From an Irish surname, derived from the Irish byname Leannán meaning "lover". The surname was borne by musician and Beatle member John Lennon (1940-1980), and it may be used as a given name in his honour. In America it is now more common as a feminine name, possibly inspired in part by the singer Lennon Stella (1999-), who began appearing on the television series Nashville in 2012.
Lennox m & f English (Modern)
From a Scottish surname that was derived from the name of a district in Scotland. The district, called Leamhnachd in Gaelic, possibly means "place of elms". This name steadily rose in popularity in the 2000s, at the same time as the similar-sounding (but unrelated) names Lennon and Knox.
Lenny m English
Diminutive of Leonard.
Lenox m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Lennox.
Lenz m German
Short form of Lorenz. This is also a German poetic word referring to the springtime.
Léo 1 m French
French form of Leo.
Léo 2 m Portuguese
Short form of Leonardo.
Leo m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, English, Croatian, Armenian, Late Roman
Derived from Latin leo meaning "lion", a cognate of Leon. It was popular among early Christians and was the name of 13 popes, including Saint Leo the Great who asserted the dominance of the Roman bishops (the popes) over all others in the 5th century. It was also borne by six Byzantine emperors and five Armenian kings. Another famous bearer was the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), name spelled Лев in Russian, whose works include War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Leo is also a constellation and the fifth sign of the zodiac.
Leobwin m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements liob "dear, beloved" and wini "friend", making it a cognate of Leofwine.
Leocadio m Spanish
Masculine form of Leocadia.
Leocadius m Late Roman
Masculine form of Leocadia.
Leofcild m Anglo-Saxon
Means "dear child", derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and cild "child".
Leofdæg m & f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with dæg "day".
Leofric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with ric "ruler, king".
Leofsige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and sige "victory".
Leofstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element leof "dear, beloved" combined with stan "stone".
Leofwine m Anglo-Saxon
Means "dear friend", derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and wine "friend". This was the name of an 8th-century English saint, also known as Lebuin, who did missionary work in Frisia.
Leolin m Welsh
Anglicized form of Llywelyn influenced by Latin leo "lion".
Leoluca m Italian
Combination of Leone 1 and Luca 1. This was the name of a 9th-century Sicilian saint.
Léon m French
French form of Leon (used to refer to the popes named Leo).
León m Spanish
Spanish form of Leo and Leon. This is also the name of a city and province in Spain (see León), though the etymology is unrelated.
Leon m English, German, Dutch, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Greek, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning "lion". During the Christian era this Greek name was merged with the Latin cognate Leo, with the result that the two forms are used somewhat interchangeably across European languages. In England during the Middle Ages this was a common name among Jews. A famous bearer was the communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), whose name is Лев in Russian.
Léonard m French
French form of Leonard.
Leonard m English, Dutch, German, Polish, Romanian, Germanic
Means "brave lion", derived from the Old German elements lewo "lion" (of Latin origin) and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The Normans brought this name to England, where it was used steadily through the Middle Ages, becoming even more common in the 20th century.
Leonardas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Leonard.
Leonardo m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Leonard. A notable bearer was Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist and scientist of the Renaissance. He is known as the inventor of several contraptions, including flying machines, as well as the painter of the Mona Lisa. Another famous bearer was Leonardo Fibonacci, a 13th-century Italian mathematician. A more recent bearer is American actor Leonardo DiCaprio (1974-).
Leonas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Leon.
Léonce m & f French
French form of Leontios, also used as a feminine name.
Leoncio m Spanish
Spanish form of Leontios.
Leone 1 m Italian
Italian form of Leo and Leon.
Léonel m French
Variant of Lionel.
Leonel m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Lionel.
Leonhard m German
German form of Leonard. A famous bearer was the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), who made many important contributions to calculus, number theory, geometry and theoretical physics.
Leonid m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Leonidas.
Leonida m Italian
Italian form of Leonidas.
Leonidas m Greek, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning "lion" combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). Leonidas was a Spartan king of the 5th century BC who sacrificed his life and his army defending the pass of Thermopylae from the Persians. This was also the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr, the father of Origen, from Alexandria.
Léonide m & f French (Rare)
French masculine and feminine form of Leonidas.
Leonīds m Latvian
Latvian form of Leonidas.