Leven

Meaning: (Life, Hearts Child, United, Joined Attached, Dearest Friend, English Surname and Place Name. It is etymologically related to the name Lennox. This name is derived from the Middle English given name "Lefwine", (Old English "Leofwine"), composed of the elements "laof" meaning "dear" or "beloved", plus, "wine" a friend. One Wilfricus filius (son of) Leofwini is recorded in the Old English Bynames Register in 1010. The surname may also be derived from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Giolla Giullin, "son of (mac) the servant of (giolla) William". The modern idiom of the spelling includes Lewins, Lewen, Livens, Levens. In 1660 Elonor Lewen was born at Kirk Michael, Isle of Man. George, son of Thomas and Mary Lewens, was christened in London in March 1700. Jemima Scot Lewen was born in East Lothian, Haddington, Scotland on the 29th July 1869. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Lewyn, which was dated 1230, in the "Northamptonshire Register", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Leven#ixzz3ftq7rn00 )

Origin: (Dutch, Hebrew, Old English)

Pronunciation: (L-EH-v-uh-n, l-EE-v-uh-n)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I love the meanings of this unique name and the history and usage is interesting as well. I think in a way this reminds me of leaven bread, lol! I think the name looks like leavin’ and one of the pronunciations is like that.

Since the one meaning is “Hearts Child” it kind of makes me see this name being used in a re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland, lol! Like the Queen of Hearts son is Leven Heart so meaning “Hearts Child Heart”, weird in a way but works, though in truth Jack Heart would work more but in a re-imagining Leven might work. I’ve been toying with the idea for a re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland for awhile so this may be first on my list. But that doesn’t mean others can’t get their hands on this name for their novel.

Also “Hearts Child” could have to do with one feeling in their heart as if they are young and child like. Or it could be about one having a desire in their heart to have a child and then having one and naming it this. There are many ways that meaning could go.