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Heaven

♀ Girl

Pronounced HEV-en /ˈhɛv.ən/High

Meaning: From the Old English heofon meaning 'sky' or 'the abode of God'; used as a vocabulary name evoking paradise, divine blessing, and spiritual aspirationHigh

In 30 seconds: Heaven is a bold English vocabulary name meaning 'paradise' and 'the abode of God.' Spiritually expressive and warmly aspirational, it has been a rising choice in African American communities since the 1990s.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningFrom the Old English heofon meaning 'sky' or 'the abode of God'; used as a vocabulary name evoking paradise, divine blessing, and spiritual aspiration
U.S. rank (2025)#543 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births556 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 30,345

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200619712025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Heaven comes from Old English heofon, meaning 'sky' or 'the realm of God,' cognate with Old High German himil. The word has been central to English Christian vocabulary since the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. As a given name it belongs to the long English tradition of virtue and aspiration names, alongside Faith, Hope, and Grace, expressing parental wishes for a child blessed by divine favor.

Heaven began charting as a U.S. given name in the 1980s and climbed through the 1990s and 2000s, reaching the top 200 at its peak. It is especially popular in African American communities and among families with strong religious convictions. The novel and film Heaven further contributed to its visibility. It remains in the top 300 and continues to be used by parents who favor spiritually expressive vocabulary names.

Did you know? The Old English word heofon is cognate with the German Himmel (sky, heaven) and reflects a Germanic cosmological view where the sky and the divine realm were the same space — making Heaven a name that literally means 'sky' in its oldest form.
Overall data confidence 94%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

HavenHeavenlyHeven

Nicknames

EvieHev

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Heaven…

Angel— shares the spiritual vocabulary-name quality and the same devout, aspirational meaning
Nevaeh— Heaven spelled backwards — literally the mirror-twin name in the same spiritual category
Faith— classic English virtue name used in the same devotional naming tradition
Serenity— another aspirational vocabulary name with spiritual and emotional warmth

Frequently Asked

What does the name Heaven mean?

Heaven comes from Old English heofon meaning 'sky' and 'the abode of God.' As a name it expresses spiritual aspiration and divine blessing.

How do you pronounce Heaven?

It is said HEV-en — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Heaven a boy or girl name?

Heaven is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Heaven?

Heaven reached the U.S. top 200 at its peak and remains in the top 300, especially popular in African American communities and among families with strong religious beliefs.