Find out how popular the first name Vivien has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Vivien by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Vivien is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 118 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Vivien.

The history of the first name Vivien

The name Vivien originated from the Latin name Vivianus, which was derived from the root word "vivus" meaning "alive" or "lively." This name was popular in ancient Rome and the Roman Empire, where it was often given to children as a representation of vitality and liveliness.

In the Middle Ages, the name took on various spellings, including Vivien, Vivian, and Vivienne, as it spread throughout Europe. During this time, it was particularly popular in France and England, where it was associated with the Arthurian legends. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vivien can be found in the 12th-century French poem "Perceval, the Story of the Grail" by Chrétien de Troyes, where a character named Vivien appears.

The name gained further recognition in the 15th century with the publication of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur," which featured the character Vivien, the Lady of the Lake. This character was portrayed as a powerful enchantress who played a significant role in the Arthurian legends.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vivien. One of the earliest was Vivien de Monbranc (c. 1080-1115), a French nobleman and crusader who participated in the First Crusade. Another prominent figure was Vivien de Portzmoguer (c. 1460-1523), a French navigator and explorer who sailed with Jacques Cartier on his expeditions to the New World.

In the literary world, Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) was a renowned British actress best known for her iconic portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind." She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in "Gone with the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Another notable bearer of the name was Vivien Kellems (1896-1975), an American businesswoman, and political activist who fought against the withholding tax system in the United States. She was a pioneer in the field of industrial cable manufacturing and played a significant role in advancing women's rights in the workplace.

Vivien Merchant (1929-1982) was a British actress and playwright who co-founded the Royal Shakespeare Company with her husband, the renowned director Peter Brook. She was acclaimed for her performances in both classical and contemporary plays and won numerous awards throughout her career.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Vivien was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Vivien, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!