Girl name · Latin
Vivian
“alive, full of life”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Vivian.
Explore Vivian further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Vivian — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Vivian is Latin vivianus, from vivus, alive. It ran as a men's name in Britain for centuries — Vivian is a boy in Brideshead Revisited and remains masculine in France as Vivien — before shifting almost entirely to girls in twentieth-century America.
The Arthurian Vivien, the Lady of the Lake who imprisons Merlin, is a separate name of uncertain Celtic origin that has been absorbed into this one. Vivian sits at number 72 in the US.
Viv is crisp and Vivi is not. Three syllables want one (Vivian Rose, Vivian Wren). On our vibe map it is Vintage Elegant with Heirloom depth.
More Latin names
Vivian sits in our Latin set — these share its roots.
All Latin names →Vivian — common questions
Is Vivian a boy or girl name?
Vivian is traditionally a girl name of Latin origin.
What does the name Vivian mean?
Vivian means “alive, full of life” of Latin origin. Vivian is Latin vivianus, from vivus, alive. It ran as a men's name in Britain for centuries — Vivian is a boy in Brideshead Revisited and remains masculine in France as Vivien — before shifting almost entirely to girls in twentieth-century America.
Where does the name Vivian come from?
Vivian is Latin in origin. The Arthurian Vivien, the Lady of the Lake who imprisons Merlin, is a separate name of uncertain Celtic origin that has been absorbed into this one. Vivian sits at number 72 in the US.
What are common nicknames for Vivian?
Viv and Vivi — the short-forms parents most often use for Vivian.
How popular is Vivian?
Vivian did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Vivian you might want for the nursery.