Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Vivian

Vivian

♀ Girl

Pronounced VIV-ee-un /ˈvΙͺv.i.Ι™n/High

Meaning: Alive; lively β€” from Latin vivianus, from vivus (alive, living)High

In 30 seconds: A vibrant Latin name meaning 'alive and lively,' Vivian carries the energy of its meaning in every syllable. After a mid-century dip it has made a strong comeback as a vintage-chic choice.
πŸ’• Browse more names
Origin HighLatin
MeaningAlive; lively β€” from Latin vivianus, from vivus (alive, living)
U.S. rank (2025)#72 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births3,362 girls (0.21% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 228,159

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192018802025

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

Vivian derives from the Latin Vivianus, from vivus meaning 'alive.' Saint Vivianus was a 5th-century bishop of Saintes in France. The name was used for both men and women in medieval times.

Vivian became fashionable as a girls' name in the 19th century, peaked in the early 20th century through actress Vivien Leigh, and has staged a strong 21st-century revival in the United States.

Did you know? The Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend is sometimes named Viviane or Nimue β€” a powerful enchantress who gave Excalibur to King Arthur.

Variations

VivienneVivienVivianne

Nicknames

VivVivi

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Vivien Leigh (1913–1967)
    British actress, two-time Academy Award winner known for Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire.

If you like Vivian…

Eleanorβ€” vintage English classic with the same mid-century Hollywood glamour revival
Audreyβ€” Audrey Hepburn-era classic with the same graceful vintage-revival arc
Josephineβ€” long vintage French classic with the same aristocratic warmth
Claireβ€” crisp French classic with the same timeless feminine elegance

Explore names like Vivian

By meaningLife

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Vivian mean?

Vivian comes from the Latin vivianus, meaning 'alive' or 'lively,' from vivus (living).

How do you pronounce Vivian?

It is said VIV-ee-un /ˈvΙͺv.i.Ι™n/ β€” three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Vivian a boy or girl name?

Vivian is used primarily as a girl's name today, though historically it was also given to boys.

How popular is Vivian?

Vivian has been climbing in the U.S. and now ranks in the top 100 girls' names.

πŸ’¬ Ask Nia