Declining since 2015, #1,844 for girls today.
Popularity of Vivien since 1885
Babies named Vivien per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Vivien's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 86 |
| 1900s | 111 |
| 1910s | 508 |
| 1920s | 768 |
| 1930s | 344 |
| 1940s | 636 |
| 1950s | 341 |
| 1960s | 199 |
| 1970s | 116 |
| 1980s | 113 |
| 1990s | 356 |
| 2000s | 937 |
| 2010s | 2,098 |
| 2020s | 785 |
Meaning & origin
Vivien is a classic Latin name meaning 'alive,' first recorded in U.S. data in 1885. It experienced a peak in 1911 and was most popular in the 1910s decade. Since 2015, its usage has been in decline, with only about 1 in 14,882 newborns receiving the name in 2025. The name was particularly favored in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. While less common today, Vivien retains a literary and elegant quality through its Arthurian associations.
Vivien derives from the Latin name Vivianus, a derivative of vivus meaning 'alive' or 'living'. It was notably used in Arthurian legend as the name of the Lady of the Lake, though her name is often spelled Viviane. The name has been in occasional English use since the 19th century, with a peak in popularity in the 1910s.
Where Vivien 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.
“Vivien” around the world
Where Vivien lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Vi, Vivi
Sibling names for Vivien
Names that share Vivien's style, for a brother or sister.
