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The short answer
Vivian is a name from the Latin Vivianus, derived from vivus ("alive"). Behind the Name notes it was borne by a French bishop and Saint Vivian, and has been used occasionally as an English masculine name since the Middle Ages; in modern times it is also used as a feminine name, either as an Anglicized form of the Irish Bébinn or a variant of Vivien. It is pronounced VIV-ee-ən. In the United States it ranked #72 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Vivian as "from the Latin name Vivianus, which was derived from Latin vivus 'alive'", noting Saint Vivian was a French bishop who "provided protection during the Visigoth invasion of the 5th century". The entry states it has been used occasionally as an English masculine name since the Middle Ages, while in modern times its feminine use is "either an Anglicized form of Bébinn or a variant of Vivien".
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | vivus | alive |
Competing or overlapping origins
- As a modern feminine name, Behind the Name says Vivian is either an Anglicized form of the Irish name Bébinn or a variant of Vivien, rather than a direct continuation of the masculine Latin Vivianus.
Popularity
Vivian ranked #72 for girls in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #72 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Vivi
Variants: Vivyan, Vyvyan, Vivien, Viviane
Related names: Bébinn
What the name feels like
Vivian has a vintage, old-Hollywood elegance (as in Vivien Leigh's near-namesake spelling) while its Latin "alive" meaning gives it an upbeat undertone; the SSA data given here only reflects its current use as a girls' name.
Style tags: vintage revival, Latin origin, two-to-three syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Behind the Name labels Vivian's gender as "Masculine & Feminine", but the SSA 2025 figures available for this profile only cover girls; a reviewer should check whether a boys' rank exists before calling it strictly feminine.
If you like this name
Names that share Vivian's vintage revival feel or Latin roots.
Similar by style
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Vivian mean?
Vivian means "alive". It comes from the Latin name Vivianus, derived from vivus, "alive".
Is Vivian a boy's name or a girl's name?
Behind the Name lists Vivian as both masculine and feminine; historically it was used as an English masculine name from the Middle Ages, while modern feminine use is an Anglicized form of Bébinn or a variant of Vivien. In 2025 US Social Security Administration data provided for this profile, it ranked #72 for girls.
Is Vivian a popular name?
Yes. Vivian ranked #72 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Vivian — supports etymology, pronunciation, history, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
