Livian
A unisex name of Latin origin meaning "Olive Grove".
Name Census estimates that about 216 living Americans carry the first name Livian. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Livian today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Livian births was 2016 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Livian. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
216
~ 1 in 1,586,826 Americans
Peak year
2016
21 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,869
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Livian: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Livian from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 136 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Livian remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Livian by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Livian during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Livian
The name Livian is a relatively uncommon name with roots dating back to ancient Rome. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "livius," which means "envious" or "jealous." The name may also have connections to the Roman family name "Livius," which was prominent during the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire.
In ancient Roman times, the name Livian was primarily used as a masculine name. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Titus Livius, also known as Livy, who was a famous Roman historian born in 59 BC. Livy is renowned for his monumental work, "Ab Urbe Condita" (From the Founding of the City), which chronicled the history of Rome from its mythical origins to the reign of Augustus.
Another notable figure bearing the name Livian was Livian of Smyrna, a Greek grammarian and rhetorician who lived in the 5th century AD. He was known for his commentaries on various ancient Greek texts and his contributions to the study of rhetoric and language.
During the Middle Ages, the name Livian fell into disuse, but it resurfaced in the Renaissance period. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Livian Serano, an Italian poet and humanist born in 1475. Serano was known for his translations of classical Greek and Latin works, as well as his own poetic compositions.
In more recent times, the name Livian has been used primarily as a feminine name, although it remains relatively rare. One notable bearer of the name was Livian Hernandez, a Venezuelan actress and model born in 1985. Hernandez has appeared in various telenovelas and films, gaining recognition in Latin American entertainment.
Another individual with the name Livian is Livian Talmadge, an American artist and sculptor born in 1957. Talmadge's works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums, and she is known for her exploration of various materials and techniques in her sculptural pieces.
While the name Livian may not be as common as some other names, it carries a rich historical legacy and has been borne by individuals from various fields, including literature, scholarship, arts, and entertainment. Its unique sound and interesting origins make it a distinctive choice for those seeking a name with a touch of antiquity and cultural significance.
People
Livian + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Livian as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Livian: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Livian?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 216 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Livian going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,586,826 US residents.
Is Livian a common name?
We classify Livian as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 218 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Livian most popular?
The single biggest year for Livian was 2016, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Livian is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Livian a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Livian in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.