Vivien
Vivien was the 1854th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 108 babies. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked 515th; the most babies were born in 2014 (248). Over the last ten years it has moved down 767 places. More babies were named Vivien in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Vivian) alive, lively · Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #1,854 girls, down 521 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 108girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2014248 babies
- Total since 1880
- 7,429babies recorded
What does the name Vivien mean?
Vivien is a spelling of Vivian, pronounced the same way, so it shares Vivian's meaning and origin.
Vivian comes from the Latin name Vivianus, with the feminine Viviana, which DMNES and Wiktionary derive from vivus, 'alive'. Wikipedia notes that it survived into modern use because it was borne by early Christian saints, both men and women. In medieval England Vivian was mainly a man's name; today it is used almost entirely for girls, alongside the French spellings Vivien and Vivienne.
Vīviānus (Latin, “Vivianus”)vīvus (Latin, “alive”)
How sure is this? Probable. Wiktionary marks the vivus derivation as 'probably'; DMNES gives it without qualification.
Related names: Vivienne, Vivien, Viviana, Vivi, Bibiana.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Vivian', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Vivian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Vivian (personal name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Vivien popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 26 since 1913.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,854 | 108 |
| 2020 | #1,333 | 166 |
| 2010 | #1,164 | 209 |
| 2000 | #2,543 | 60 |
| 1990 | #4,377 | 23 |
| 1980 | #7,395 | 9 |
| 1970 | #4,752 | 12 |
| 1960 | #1,979 | 34 |
| 1950 | #1,473 | 40 |
| 1940 | #574 | 148 |
| 1930 | #981 | 57 |
| 1920 | #1,020 | 54 |
| 1910 | #857 | 26 |
| 1900 | #1,007 | 15 |
| 1890 | #1,336 | 6 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Vivien, counting every spelling?
Vivien is a spelling of Vivian, a name family that ranked #41 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,854 for Vivien on its own. Together these spellings went to 5,428 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivian | 3,362 | #72 | 14,635 |
| Vivienne | 1,786 | #172 | 6,796 |
| Vivien | 108 | #1,854 | 619 |
| Vivianne | 114 | #1,776 | 599 |
| Viviane | 23 | #5,544 | 124 |
| Viviann | 35 | #4,164 | 120 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Vivien?
108 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Vivien (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Vivien born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 78 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Vivien.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Vivien?
About 5,200 people born in the US named Vivien are alive today, with a median age of 15; half are between 9 and 29. That makes Vivien mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Vivien by state
How common Vivien was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (2.7×), Ohio (1.6×). In 35 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Vivien: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Vivien, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Vivien
What does Vivien mean?
Vivien is a spelling of Vivian, which means “alive, lively” (Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Vivien?
Vivien was the 1854th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 108 babies. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked 515th; the most babies were born in 2014 (248). Over the last ten years it has moved down 767 places. More babies were named Vivien in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Vivien a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Vivien in the US.
Where is Vivien most popular?
In 2021–2025, Vivien was most common in Massachusetts (0.21 per 1,000 girls), followed by Ohio and New York.