The first name Vivian
A girl’s name from Latin meaning “alive”.
Pronounced /ˈvɪvi.ən/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Vivian means “alive” in Latin.
Early saints' name from Latin Vīviānus, and of its feminine form Vīviāna, probably from vīvus (“alive”).
More names that mean life.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 43 girls were named Vivian, making it the 834th most popular girls’ name.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Vivian with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Vivian at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 3,362 girls born in the United States were named Vivian, the 72nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 4,128 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.
Vivian in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Vivian in French, Danish and Norwegian too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Vivian
39 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Vivian MaierFrench-American photographer (1926–2009)
- Vivian WoodwardEnglish footballer (1879-1954)
- Vivian FuchsBritish explorer (1908–1999)
- Vivian WuChinese actress, born 1966
- Vivian VanceAmerican actress (1909–1979)
- Vivian BlaineAmerican actress (1921–1995)
- Vivian Wilsonborn 2004
- Vivian SilverCanadian-born Israeli peace activist (1949–2023)
- Vivian McGrathAustralian tennis player (1916–1978)
- Vivian KubrickAmerican-British film composer, born 1960
- Wheeler Vivian OakmanAmerican silent film actor (1890–1949)
- Vivian GornickAmerican author (b. 1935)
More Latin girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Vivian mean?
- Vivian means “alive” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Vivian?
- Early saints' name from Latin Vīviānus, and of its feminine form Vīviāna, probably from vīvus (“alive”).
- How popular is the name Vivian?
- In 2025, 43 girls born in England and Wales were named Vivian, ranking 834th.
- What are nicknames for Vivian?
- Common nicknames for Vivian include Viv.
- Is Vivian a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 230,755 US babies named Vivian since 1880 were girls.
- When was Vivian most popular?
- 1920 in the United States, when 4,128 babies were named Vivian, its highest rank at 64th.
- How do you pronounce Vivian?
- Vivian is /ˈvɪvi.ən/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Vivian?
- Vivien and Vivienne.
- Is Vivian also a surname?
- Yes. Vivian is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.