The present invention relates to negative electrode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries and to rechargeable lithium batteries including the same. The negative electrode materials improve the capacity characteristics and cycle-life characteristics of the rechargeable lithium batteries. The negative electrode material includes a negative active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, and the negative active material includes an oxide particle represented by LixMyVzO2+d and having a full width at half maximum of a X-ray diffraction angle (2θ) at a (003) plane of 0.2 degrees or more as measured by X-ray diffraction analysis using a CuKαray.