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Home › Baby Names Directory › Vivian

Vivian

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Vivian

Pronounced VIV-ee-un /ˈvɪv.i.ən/High

Meaning: From the Latin Vivianus, 'alive; lively' (vivus, 'living'). Historically a boy's name — borne by St Vivian — though now overwhelmingly a girl's name in the U.S. Used here for a boy; both routes are honest.Medium

In 30 seconds: A classic with two eras: Vivian means 'alive; lively' — once a boy's name, now mostly a girl's (said 'VIV-ee-un'). We note both honestly.
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Origin MediumLatin
MeaningFrom the Latin Vivianus, 'alive; lively' (vivus, 'living'). Historically a boy's name — borne by St Vivian — though now overwhelmingly a girl's name in the U.S. Used here for a boy; both routes are honest.
U.S. rank (2022)#10770 ↘ Falling
2022 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1919
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,578

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191918802022

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

As a name, Vivian comes from the Latin Vivianus ('alive; lively'). It was long a boy's name and remains so in some families, but in the U.S. it now leans strongly female, which we flag plainly. Used here for a boy (said 'VIV-ee-un').

For boys it appears only rarely today, against far heavier girls' use. Rare for boys, classic, and lively at the root.

Did you know? Vivian is Latin for 'alive; lively' — historically a boy's name (St Vivian), though today overwhelmingly a girl's name; the Arthurian enchantress is spelled Vivien. Used here for a boy, we note both routes honestly (said 'VIV-ee-un').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Vivian — Latin 'alive; lively'; historically male, now mainly female

Variations

VivienVyvyanVivianus

Nicknames

VivVivi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Vivian…

Julian— a like Latin -ian classic
Adrian— a like Latin boy's name
Vincent— a like Latin classic
Sebastian— a like Latin -ian name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Vivian mean?

Vivian is Latin for 'alive; lively' (from vivus, 'living'). It was historically a boy's name and is now overwhelmingly a girl's name, which we note.

How do you pronounce Vivian?

It's said VIV-ee-un /ˈvɪv.i.ən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Vivian a boy or girl name?

Vivian is used for both, but far more often for girls today; historically it was a boy's name. Used here for a boy — we note the modern girl-lean plainly.

How popular is Vivian?

Vivian is extremely rare for boys in the U.S. and far more common for girls.

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