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Home › Baby Names Directory › Haven

Haven

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAY-ven /ˈheɪ.vən/High

Meaning: Safe harbor; place of refuge; from Old English hæfen (harbor, port)High

In 30 seconds: A serene English word name meaning 'safe harbor.' Part of the wave of positive-meaning word names for girls, Haven evokes peace, safety, and shelter.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningSafe harbor; place of refuge; from Old English hæfen (harbor, port)
U.S. rank (2025)#190 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,642 girls (0.10% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 22,871

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519202025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Haven comes from the Old English hæfen, meaning 'harbor' or 'port.' The word evolved into the modern English 'haven,' meaning a place of safety and refuge. As a given name it is a modern American coinage, part of the trend for inspirational or virtue-adjacent word names.

Haven entered the U.S. girls' top 1000 in the 2000s and has been steadily rising since. It is part of a cluster of refuge-related names (Harmony, Serenity, Bliss) that appeal to parents seeking names with a calm, protective meaning. It is used slightly more for girls than boys.

Did you know? The city of New Haven, Connecticut — home of Yale University — takes its name from the Old English hæfen (harbor), the same root as this given name.

Variations

HaevenHavyn

Nicknames

HayHav

Famous Bearers

  • ★Haven Gillespie (1888-1975)
    American songwriter and lyricist of Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
  • ★Haven Moses (1946-)
    American former NFL wide receiver
  • ★Haven Denney (1995-)
    American pair figure skater

If you like Haven…

Harmony— positive-meaning word name with a similar peaceful resonance
Serenity— another tranquil word name popular for girls
Eden— place of peace and beauty, similarly a word-name
Grace— positive virtue name with the same quiet elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Haven mean?

Haven means 'safe harbor' or 'place of refuge,' from Old English hæfen (harbor). It is an inspirational word name conveying safety and peace.

How do you pronounce Haven?

Haven is pronounced HAY-ven (/ˈheɪ.vən/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Haven a boy or girl name?

Haven is predominantly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is Haven?

Haven entered the U.S. top 1000 girls' names in the 2000s and has been climbing steadily since.

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