The first name Shiva
A unisex name from Sanskrit meaning “the auspicious one”.
Pronounced /ˈʃiːvə/ 2 syllables Unisex
Meaning and origin
Sanskrit origin
Shiva means “the auspicious one” in Sanskrit.
Borrowed from Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 6 boys were named Shiva, making it the 3,256th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 8 births (#2,671).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Shiva with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Shiva at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 24 boys born in the United States were named Shiva, the 4,370th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 24 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Shiva in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Shiv
- Shivan
- Siva
Famous people named Shiva
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Cosma Shiva HagenGerman actress, born 1981
- Shiva RoseAmerican actress, born 1969
More Sanskrit unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Shiva mean?
- Shiva means “the auspicious one” in Sanskrit.
- What is the origin of the name Shiva?
- Borrowed from Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
- How popular is the name Shiva?
- In 2025, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Shiva, ranking 3,256th. Its peak was 2024, with 8 births.
- Is Shiva a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 827 US babies named Shiva since 1880, 34% were girls and 66% boys.
- When was Shiva most popular?
- 2021 in the United States, when 24 babies were named Shiva, its highest rank at 4,346th.
- How do you pronounce Shiva?
- Shiva is /ˈʃiːvə/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Shiva?
- Shiv, Shivan and Siva.