Viva
A feminine name derived from the Latin word vivere, meaning "alive".
Name Census estimates that about 809 living Americans carry the first name Viva. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Viva today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Viva births was 1921 (103 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Viva. 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
809
~ 1 in 423,677 Americans
Peak year
1921
103 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,124
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Viva: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Viva from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 722 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Viva 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 Viva during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vivas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 21 states and territories. Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee recorded the most babies named Viva, while West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Viva
The name Viva has its roots in the Latin language, derived from the word "vivere," which means "to live." It is believed to have originated during the Roman era, when Latin was widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Viva can be found in ancient Roman texts, where it was often used as an exclamation of joy or celebration, similar to the modern-day "hurrah" or "hooray." In these contexts, it was a way to express enthusiasm and zest for life.
During the Middle Ages, the name Viva gained popularity among some Christian communities, particularly in Italy and Spain. It was sometimes given to children as a symbolic wish for them to live a long and vibrant life, reflecting the name's literal meaning.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Viva Ludovico Della Robbia (1460-1537) was an Italian sculptor and ceramist from Florence. He was known for his terracotta sculptures and his contributions to the della Robbia family's artistic legacy.
Another historical figure with the name Viva was Viva Lucia Valerio (1624-1694), an Italian painter and printmaker from Naples. She was recognized for her portraits and religious works, which were highly regarded during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, Viva Perpetua Felicia Paulina (1782-1857) was a Spanish nun and writer who authored several religious texts and poems. She is remembered for her devotion to her faith and her literary contributions.
During the 20th century, Viva Las Vegas became a popular phrase associated with the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrating its vibrant entertainment and tourism industry. While not a person's name, this phrase helped to further popularize the word "viva" as an expression of joy and excitement.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Viva was Viva Bianca (born in 1983), an Australian actress known for her roles in various television shows and films, including "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" and "Xena: Warrior Princess."
People
Viva + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Viva as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Viva: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Viva?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 809 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Viva 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 423,677 US residents.
Is Viva a common name?
We classify Viva as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 3,583 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Viva most popular?
The single biggest year for Viva was 1921, when 103 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Viva is about 54 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Viva a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Viva 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.