A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Vivian since 1880
Babies named Vivian per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 465 |
| 1890s | 1,999 |
| 1900s | 4,818 |
| 1910s | 23,634 |
| 1920s | 36,572 |
| 1930s | 22,932 |
| 1940s | 22,913 |
| 1950s | 23,554 |
| 1960s | 14,010 |
| 1970s | 5,001 |
| 1980s | 4,149 |
| 1990s | 8,864 |
| 2000s | 14,690 |
| 2010s | 27,231 |
| 2020s | 17,340 |
Meaning & origin
Vivian has been a consistent presence on U.S. naming charts since records began in 1880, when it first appeared. Its peak year 1920 saw the name at its highest rank, and after a long decline it began rising again from 1988 onward. Today, about 1 in 478 girls receive the name, reflecting a revival that has brought it back into favor. The name is especially popular in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Wyoming, states that often embrace vintage names. Vivian's Latin root vivus connects it to a lively meaning that has kept it in use for over a century.
Vivian derives from the Latin name Vivianus, itself from vivus meaning 'alive' or 'living'. It was borne by several early saints, including a 5th-century bishop of Saintes, France, and a 4th-century martyr. Though historically masculine in Latin tradition, Vivian has been used predominantly for girls in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, likely influenced by the similar-sounding and feminine Vivianne.
Where Vivian 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.
“Vivian” around the world
Where Vivian lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Vi, Viv, Vivi
Sibling names for Vivian
Names that share Vivian's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Clara, Evelyn, Lucy, Alice, Hazel, Audra, Audrey, Cecelia, Darcy, Eugenia, Genevieve, Gwendolyn, Hilary, Julia, Lillian, Margo, Roxanne, Sadie, Sidney, Sophia, Veronica, Adriane, Annalise, Carman, Celene, Corinne, Emmaline, Gillian, Loraine, Lorelai, Lucinda, Maurine, Meredith, Millicent, Nicolette, Norine, Rosalyn, Roslyn, Valarie, Valery, Valorie, Vianey, Winslow, Ambria, Carline, Catheryn, Dorine, Elayne, Elois, Emaline, Evalena, Evelynne, Genevie, Glennis, Gwendolynn, Jacquelyne, Jocelin, Julieanne, Lanora, Laurice, Lavonia, Lorean, Madalene, Madaline, Madelene, Madlyn, Madolyn, Meridith, Merlyn, Regena, Roselynn, Roslynn, Sabrena, Sinclair, Velva, Vernelle, Adalaide, Annalea, Annaleah, Annarose, Audery, Beatris, Calysta, Caraline, Cicily, Claressa, Corinn, Cyntia, Dabney, Elane, Elanie, Eleonor, Elishia, Elisse, Ellenor, Ellin, Elyce, Elyn, Evelene, Evlyn, Geneve, Gwendelyn, Gwendolen, Gwenivere, Gwyndolyn, Hilarie, Imojean, Irean, Jackquline, Jacqui, Janeva, Jocelynne, Lauraine, Lawren, Liliann, Lilliam, Linnette, Lorrayne, Lorrine, Lydiann, Lyndia, Lynea, Madalynne, Madelina, Magdalyn, Marvine, Maurissa, Montine, Natallie, Rosalin, Roxan, Rozalyn, Syliva, Valena, Valjean, Vallerie, Vallery, Valma, Valrie, Viona, Vivica, Vona, Amberlin, Annalis, Avonna, Carlise, Carolynne, Claryce, Coretta, Doriann, Elanda, Elleanor, Eveny, Evonna, Genova, Glora, Glynda, Gwenevere, Helayna, Ilyse, Ilyssa, Imogean, Jeneva, Joylene, Juline, Lavita, Leannah, Livian, Lucianne, Lyvonne, Madelena, Madeleyn, Madline, Margarie, Marguarite, Rogena, Rosland, Rovena, Slyvia, Travia, Valaree, Valla, Valyn, Vaness, Veroncia, Vicci, Vici, Vickye, Lavida, Adamae, Aldonia, Aliese, Alisabeth, Alleyne, Amillya, Anatasia, Armenia, Audris, Boneta, Cassandr, Cicilia, Dorinne, Ellianne, Emilene, Evalin, Evona, Geraldin, Glorian, Jilliam, Joscelyne, Julanne, Jullianna, Laurana, Lianah, Lizbett, Lydiana, Nevelyn, Norena, Quentina, Raianna, Valeen, Valeree, Valine, Vallarie, Valree, Veona, Verenise, Vernica, Veverly, Viann, Vickii
Brothers: Oliver, Henry, Julian, Felix, Leo, Barrett, Byron, Calvin, Christian, Damien, Elliott, Harrison, Harvey, Maxwell, Nelson, Allan, Atticus, Austen, Barron, Carlton, Cedrick, Clark, Cliffton, Cornell, Duke, Emmet, Hamilton, Hilton, Jarvis, Jullian, Kalvin, Lowell, Lyndon, Macarthur, Marshal, Montgomery, Quentin, Quincy, Quinten, Quintin, Rand, Rhett, Stanford, Stanton, Talmadge, Weldon, Winfield, Winston, Carleton, Carlisle, Carlyle, Castiel, Charlton, Cortland, Curtiss, Denton, Denzil, Fitzgerald, Gerome, Greggory, Huston, Jerrett, Julious, Kennard, Lavell, Lawerence, Lionell, Niles, Norvell, Orson, Payne, Rustin, Spenser, Stafford, Thornton, Vinson, Aldean, Astor, Beauregard, Blase, Carlon, Christien, Colvin, Delmont, Dillinger, Dolton, Donley, Emerick, Essex, Everitt, Ezzard, Gerrard, Gordan, Hawkins, Holmes, Jarold, Klint, Latham, Lawerance, Lindbergh, Lyon, Maxfield, Merril, Norvin, Redmond, Reymond, Rochester, Ruffin, Severin, Stephens, Theordore, Vaden, Vandy, Venson, Vinton, Wess, Wynton, Cederick, Chilton, Corbet, Durham, Eddrick, Ethridge, Evens, Farron, Gabrian, Garet, Janiel, Jovin, Kennet, Kline, Leodan, Lynford, Marsden, Marvyn, Prescott, Raliegh, Rennick, Rollan, Roth, Tedric, Tilian, Travers, Varnell, Vencent, Verdon, Verlan, Virlan, Wyndell, Zebastian, Anothy, Barett, Belmont, Daemian, Dominyk, Gustin, Arlander, Calven, Chaunce, Clavin, Clayborne, Daemien, Dameian, Derrall, Etheridge, Gilliam, Granvel, Juriel, Levaughn, Lucion, Marcelus, Marvion, Nicolis, Norlan, Richards, Samiel, Savoy, Upton, Valgene, Vanden, Varick, Vick, Vinal, Vincen, Vivin
Names like Vivian
Names whose popularity has moved with Vivian's over the last 50 years.
