Leyver
Meaning "inheritor", a masculine given name of Russian Jewish origin.
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Leyver. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Leyver today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Leyver births was 2009 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Leyver. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Leyver. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2009
7 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,395
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Leyver: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Leyver from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 7 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Leyver remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Leyver by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Leyver during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Leyver
The given name Leyver is a relatively uncommon and unique name with a fascinating history. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic languages, specifically Old Norse. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "leyfr," which means "to leave" or "to depart."
In the early medieval period, the name was primarily used among the Norse and Scandinavian cultures, particularly in regions like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It was commonly given to boys born during times of migration or travel, symbolizing the journey or departure from one place to another.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leyver can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of stories and legends that date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. In these ancient texts, Leyver is mentioned as the name of a Viking warrior who embarked on daring expeditions and voyages across the seas.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Leyver. One such person was Leyver Halvorsen (1551-1623), a Norwegian explorer and navigator who is credited with charting the northern coast of Norway and parts of the Arctic region. Another was Leyver Eriksen (1678-1742), a renowned Danish shipbuilder and naval architect who designed several iconic ships for the Danish Royal Navy.
In the 17th century, the name Leyver gained some prominence in Germany, particularly in the northern regions. Leyver von Sternberg (1602-1678) was a German nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Thirty Years' War. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him a place in the annals of German history.
Moving to the 19th century, Leyver Larsen (1825-1901) was a Norwegian painter and artist who gained recognition for his landscape and seascape paintings, capturing the rugged beauty of his homeland. His works are celebrated as iconic representations of Norwegian art and culture.
Despite its rich historical roots, the name Leyver has remained relatively uncommon in modern times. However, its unique sound and connection to the adventurous spirit of the ancient Norse people have made it a distinctive and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with a touch of heritage and meaning.
People
Leyver + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Leyver as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Leyver: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Leyver?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Leyver going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Leyver a common name?
We classify Leyver as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Leyver most popular?
The single biggest year for Leyver was 2009, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Leyver is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Leyver in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Leyver a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Leyver in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Leyver still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Leyver in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Leyver can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Leyver?
Want to know how many people have the name Leyver? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.