Vivien

The unisex name Vivien has the meaning 'the alive one', 'the lively one', 'the cheerful one', and can also be interpreted as 'the victorious one' or 'the beautiful one'. Its roots lie in the Latin word vivus, which means 'alive' or 'lively'.

What does the name Vivien mean?

Vivien is a gender-neutral unisex name that encompasses the meanings 'the alive one', 'the lively one', 'the cheerful one', as well as the extended interpretation 'the victorious one' or 'the beautiful one'. The origin is often traced back to the Latin term vivus, which means 'alive' or 'lively'. However, some name researchers also locate its roots in the ancient Roman surname Vivianus or Vibianus, which in turn derives from the Etruscan family name Vibius. A well-known bearer of the name is the Lady of the Lake, who presented King Arthur with the legendary sword Excalibur in Arthurian legend. The specific spelling 'Vivien' has its origin in English, while the masculine form comes from French. In other languages, the name is often used without the final 'e' in the masculine form. Various spellings include Vivian (English), Viviana (Italian), Viviane (German), and Vivienne (English and French). In some countries, the name is also known as Bibiana (Spanish) or Bibiane, where in some regions the B is replaced with a V.

Where does the name Vivien come from?

The origin of the name is rooted in the Etruscan language and was later adopted into Latin. Originally, the name derives from the Etruscan family name Vibius and means 'alive' or 'lively'. The derivation comes from the Latin word 'vivus'. The name has Etruscan and Latin roots and is widespread in languages such as English and French.

How do you pronounce Vivien?

The pronunciation of Vivien is soft and consists of two to three syllables. In the German language, the name is usually articulated as 'Vi-vi-en' [ˈviːvi̯ən] or [viˈvi̯ɛn]. The repetition of the syllables creates a harmonious flow of sound. The clear sound structure gives the name a certain lightness. Vivien appears international and stylish, modern, feminine, and present.

When is the name day of Vivien?

The name day for Vivien is celebrated on August 28, in honor of Saint Vivien. Other dates include December 2, dedicated to Saint Bibianus, and December 17.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Vivien enjoys great popularity. Currently, it ranks 286th on the list of the most common names for girls. Its best placement was in 1992, reaching 32nd place. In the last ten years, Vivien has been given as a first name about 2,300 times, which places it 276th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 238th.

Nicknames & pet names

Bifi / Feefi / Fiffi / Fifi / Fifling / Fiwi / Ivi / Ivie / Kivi / Kiwi / Kiwoh / Mimien / Pfifferling / Vi / Vibi / Vien / Vihivien / Vii / Vik / Viki / Vio / Viv / Viva / Vivae / Vivchen / Vivco / Viven / Vivenchen / Vivern / Vivey / Vivi / Viviana / Vivianna / Vivie / Viviee / Vivier / Viviklein / Vivikus / Vivil / Vivimausi / Vivinski / Vivio / Viviona / Vivitek / Vivka / Vivl / Vivo / Vivosch / Vivu / Viwaldi / Vuvien / Wifi

Similar first names

Famous people

• Jean-Baptiste Vivien de Chateaubrun (playwright from France)
• Jean-Vivien Bantsimba (French footballer)
• Marc-Vivien Foe (Cameroonian footballer)
• Traisy Vivien Tukiet (Malagasy diver)
• Vivien Barman (German-Italian singer)
• Vivien Bauernschmidt (singer)
• Vivien Beil (football player)
• Vivien Brisse (cyclist)
• Vivien Bullert (German actress)
• Vivien Bündchen (daughter of model Gisele Bündchen)
• Vivien Cardone (actress)
• Vivien Carey (film producer)
• Vivien Carter (actress from Australia)
• Vivien Endicott-Douglas (Canadian actress)
• Vivien Garry (American musician)
• Vivien Goldman (singer from England)
• Vivien Greene (British writer)
• Vivien Gribble (artist from the UK)
• Vivien Haddon (Vietnamese swimmer)
• Vivien Heilbron (British actress)