Where does the name Vivian come from?

Vivian is a girl name of Latin origin.

Is Vivian a boy or a girl name?

Vivian is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 99% of children given the name Vivian are girls and 1% are boys.

How popular is the name Vivian in 2023?

Vivian ranks #87 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1920 with 4,200 babies.

How do you pronounce Vivian?

Vivian is pronounced VIV-ee-an (3 syllables).

What are common spellings of Vivian?

Vivian is also written as Vivien, Viviana, Vivienne.

A name from Latin · Girl

Vivian

From Vivianus, derived from Latin vivus, "alive, lively." Originally a Romano-British saint's name; the modern association is reinforced by the actress Vivien Leigh.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

221,714 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

2,808 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

VFrom Vivianus, derived from Latin vivus, "alive, lively." Originally a Romano-British saint's name; the modern association is reinforced by the actress Vivien Leigh.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Vivian".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Vivien Most common Viviana Vivienne

Quick answers

People often ask about Vivian.

What does the name Vivian mean?: Vivian means from Vivianus, derived from Latin vivus, "alive, lively." Originally a Romano-British saint's name; the modern association is reinforced by the actress Vivien Leigh.
Where does the name Vivian come from?: Vivian is a girl name of Latin origin.
Is Vivian a boy or a girl name?: Vivian is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 99% of children given the name Vivian are girls and 1% are boys.
How popular is the name Vivian in 2023?: Vivian ranks #87 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1920 with 4,200 babies.
How do you pronounce Vivian?: Vivian is pronounced VIV-ee-an (3 syllables).
What are common spellings of Vivian?: Vivian is also written as Vivien, Viviana, Vivienne.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.