Levar

Brought into the mainstream by actor and TV host LeVar Burton who starred in the 70s miniseries Roots and in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Levar, or LeVar as it may be stylized, is a name of African American origin, also used as an English surname.

LeVar Burton's full name is Levardis, and he has said the name comes from the Latin veritas, combined with the popular Le prefix, which gives the name the meaning "the truth".

As an English surname on the other hand, it may derive from the Old English laefre, meaning "where the rushes grow", with Lever and Leyver being alternative forms. Other sources suggest it comes from the Hebrew leharim meaning "to lift, raise" or perhaps even from lev ari meaning "lion heart". This however may be conjecture as Levar does not appear to be a popular surname among Hebrew speaking communities.

Having never appeared in the US stats before the 70s, Levar was given more than 500 times in 1977 when Roots first hit TV screens. Since then, it has rapidly declined in use, and in the most recent year, it was given to 5 boys in the US.

Levar is also given to girls.

Pronounced luh-VAR.

As of October 2026, Levar ranked #6629 for girls in US births in 1977 and #13535 for boys in US births in 2022 SSA, peaked at #343 for boys in 1977.