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Origin: Welsh

Meaning: Sea; The River Soar

Lear is a boy's name of Shakespearean fame though its meaning may be more obscure. Named for the titular figure of King Lear, Lear is rooted in the real-life king who inspired the great tragedy—the legendary Leir of Britain. As a variant of Leir, Lear may hold claim to several persuasive origins, the most popular being the old Brittonic name for the River Soar, Ligera. Alternatively, Lear may also find stem as a variant of the Welsh Llŷr, rooted in the Old Irish Lir, meaning "sea"—both of which bear fascinating myths of their own.