Levana is a unique and captivating name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'like the morning star'. It was popularized by the famous Romanian-born French novelist, Emile Zola, who used it as the main character's name in his 1886 novel, 'Germinal'. The name Levana has since been associated with strength, courage, and resilience, much like the protagonist of Zola's work.
The name Levana experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 1990s to the present day. With only five or six births per year from 1977 to 2008, it was quite uncommon during that period. However, starting in 2009, the number of births increased steadily: there were 6 births each year from 2009 to 2013, followed by a jump to 9 births in both 2014 and 2016. This trend continued with 13 births in 2017, reaching an all-time high of 18 births in 2020, and remaining relatively high with 15 births in 2021 and 17 births in 2022. The most recent year available, 2023, saw a slight dip to 14 births. Overall, the name Levana has seen increased usage over time, with a substantial increase starting around 2014.