Lear

Literary name

Lear Origin and Meaning

The name Lear is a boy's name .

The name and story of Shakespeare’s King Lear is based on that of Leir — a legendary king of the Britons, who supposedly reigned around the 8th century BC. According to 12th-century historian, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Leir’s name derives from the Brythonic word for the River Soar.

Lear has also been identified with the Welsh sea-god Llyr and his Irish counterpart Ler or Lir.

Famous People Named Lear

• Leir or Lear legendary King of the Britons