Leventis (Λεβέντης) is a Greek word for describing a brave man, derived from the Greek name for the Levant. Because nt is pronounced /nd/ in Greek, the name is sometimes spelled Levendis. The etymology of Leventis is given in the Oxford Dictionary of American Family Names:
From Italian levanti ‘Levantine’, ‘people from the East’, i.e. the eastern Mediterranean, also in Greek the term has connotations of fearlessness and gallantry. It is also a reduced form of surnames with Levento- as a prefix, e.g. Leventogiannis ‘John the gallant’.
— Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
Alternatively, it may originate from the Turkish word Levend.
Contemporary Meaning
editIn contemporary Greek, "levendis" means a handsome and gallant male.
People
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Here is a partial list of people named Leventis or Levendis:
- Anastasios George Leventis (1902-1978), Greek-Cypriot businessman and dominant figure in the economy of many West African countries and especially Nigeria. Held the title of Babalaje of Egbaland.
- Andrew G. Leventis (born 1980), American painter and professor
- Phil P. Leventis (born 1945), American politician
- Vassilis Leventis (born 1951), Greek politician
- George Levendis, TV and music industry executive
In Harlan Ellison's short story The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore, each of the vignettes that comprise the story are preceded by "LEVENDIS":
Sports
editThe Nigerian football team Leventis United is named after the A. G. Leventis foundation created by Anastasios G. Leventis.