Meaning and background
The story behind Lebowski
Lebowski is a genuine Polish surname, but its precise root should not be guessed from the ending. The name is especially recognisable from the 1998 Coen brothers film The Big Lebowski, in which the central character is known as the Dude. The British Council confirms the film and its release year, while a Polish language reference confirms that Lebowski is a Polish family name. Those are firmer facts than an unverified translation.
- Origin
- Polish family surname; also familiar in popular culture from the 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Source
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About Lebowski
Recorded as a dog’s name
Lebowski appears in 5 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/lɪbɑfski/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the second syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/lɪbɑfski/ · primary stress on syllable 2L IH0 B AA1 F S K IY0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (3)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
- City of Seattle Seattle Pet Licenses — DOG-only name aggregate, current source dated 6 October 2026 — Secondary spelling corroboration from dog-only licence rows. No cats, owner fields, national ranking or unique-dog claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.