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Home › Baby Names Directory › Niv

Niv

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEEV /ˈniːv/Medium

Meaning: From the Hebrew niv, 'expression; idiom; turn of phrase' — by extension, eloquence and articulate speech. It is a modern Israeli name used for both girls and boys, which we note.Medium

In 30 seconds: Niv is Hebrew for 'expression; turn of phrase' — a one-beat name about eloquence, used for both (said 'NEEV').
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Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew niv, 'expression; idiom; turn of phrase' — by extension, eloquence and articulate speech. It is a modern Israeli name used for both girls and boys, which we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#14751 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 26

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202420192024

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

Niv comes from the Hebrew word niv, 'expression; idiom; turn of phrase', and by extension eloquence. It belongs to the wave of short, word-based names that modern Israeli parents have favoured, and it is genuinely unisex there — used for girls and boys alike, which we note. One clean beat (said 'NEEV').

In the U.S. it appears only very rarely. Very rare, short, and modern Israeli.

Did you know? In Hebrew, niv is the word for a turn of phrase — an idiom, a way of putting things — which makes Niv a name about finding the right words.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Niv — Hebrew niv 'expression; turn of phrase'; unisex in Israel

Variations

NiveNiviNeev

Nicknames

NiviNiva

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Niv…

Noa— a like short modern Hebrew name
Shai— a like unisex Israeli pick
Tal— a like one-beat Hebrew word-name
Lior— a like modern Israeli choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Niv mean?

Niv means 'expression', 'idiom' or 'turn of phrase' in Hebrew, and by extension eloquence.

How do you pronounce Niv?

It's said NEEV /ˈniːv/ — one syllable.

Is Niv a boy or girl name?

Niv is unisex in Israel, used for both girls and boys — we note the lean.

How popular is Niv?

Niv is very rare in the U.S. and better known in Israel.

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