girl's name
Vivian
VIV-ee-un
- Origin Latin
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 237,557
the United States
#72
2025 births
Vivian is a name of Latin origin meaning "alive" or "lively," from vivus. It was originally a male name in medieval England, borne by saints and bishops, and shifted decisively toward girls only in the nineteenth century.
- Vivian is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in 1920, when 4,200 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 985 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Vivian over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 547 |
| 1890s | 2,123 |
| 1900s | 4,973 |
| 1910s | 24,115 |
| 1920s | 37,162 |
| 1930s | 23,293 |
| 1940s | 23,169 |
| 1950s | 23,749 |
| 1960s | 14,111 |
| 1970s | 5,050 |
| 1980s | 4,206 |
| 1990s | 8,928 |
| 2000s | 14,712 |
| 2010s | 27,265 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 17,352 |
What Vivian means
Vivian means living or lively, from the Latin vivus, alive. The same root gives English vivid, vivacious, survive and revive, all carrying some sense of life or liveliness.
Where Vivian comes from
Vivian comes from the Latin Vivianus, from vivus, meaning alive. In medieval England it was a man's name — Saint Vivian was a fifth-century bishop of Saintes, and the name appears in English records for men through the Middle Ages, surviving as the surname Vivian in Cornwall. The shift to female use came in the nineteenth century, helped by Arthurian romance, where the Lady of the Lake is variously called Vivien, Viviane or Nimue, and by Tennyson's Idylls of the King. English now generally uses Vivian and Vivien for women and reserves Vyvyan as an archaic male spelling, though the split is not absolute.
Vivian in use
Vivian was a man's name in medieval England for centuries before Arthurian romance helped move it to women.
How popular is Vivian?
In 2025, Vivian was given to 3,367 babies in the United States, ranking #72 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Vivian is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Vivian
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Vivian also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Vivian over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Vivian
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Vivian in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Vivian
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Vivian — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Vivian
What does the name Vivian mean?
Vivian means "alive" or "lively," from the Latin vivus.
Was Vivian originally a boy's name?
Yes. It was a male name in medieval England and shifted toward girls in the nineteenth century.
What is the difference between Vivian and Vivienne?
Vivienne is the French feminine form; Vivian is the older English one.
How popular is the name Vivian?
In 2025, Vivian was given to 3,367 babies in the United States, ranking #72 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Vivian?
Vivian has 3 syllables.
What are the nicknames for Vivian?
Vivian is usually shortened to Viv and Vivi.
Is Vivian a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Vivian currently ranks #72 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.