Declining since 2020, #895 for girls today.
Popularity of Liv since 1956
Babies named Liv per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 129 |
| 1980s | 73 |
| 1990s | 84 |
| 2000s | 890 |
| 2010s | 3,443 |
| 2020s | 2,267 |
Meaning & origin
Liv has been in use since at least 1956, though it remained relatively rare for decades. Its peak came in 2020, when it reached its highest rank. Since then, its trajectory has been falling, dropping slightly in popularity each year. In 2025, Liv ranked 895th, with approximately 1 in 5,430 newborns receiving the name. The name is most popular in Utah, Connecticut, and Washington state.
Liv likely originates from the Old Norse name Líf, which means 'life'. It has also been used as a short form of Olivia or Livia, and gained independent popularity in Scandinavia. In the English-speaking world, Liv came into use as a given name in the 20th century, notably boosted by actress Liv Ullmann.
Where Liv is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Liv” around the world
Where Liv lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
430
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
Quebec
28
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Sibling names for Liv
Names that share Liv's style, for a brother or sister.
