Given name & surname
Viv
“white lady”·“one who is full of life; vibrant”·“one who is full of life”
Viv is a variant of Vivian. Interpretations include “white lady”, “one who is full of life; vibrant” (Latin), and “one who is full of life” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Viv is a variant of Vivian. Interpretations include “white lady”, “one who is full of life; vibrant” (Latin), and “one who is full of life” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Viv is a variant of Vivian. Vivian has been associated with Old French, Latin, and Irish Gaelic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Viv is a diminutive of Vivian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1960. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Viv is a variant of Vivian. The history of Vivian gives this family its wider story. Vivian’s historical associations include a 5th-century bishop of Saintes in western France.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Viv through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5
- 0 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 1960
- 5 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1960. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 296 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Viv’s family of names
In English usage, Viv is a diminutive of Vivian. Viv is a short form of Vivian. Viv has a related form in Vivian.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Viv
- Viv AndersonEnglish footballer (born 1956)
- Viv Solomon-Otaborassociation football playerborn 1996
- Viv BusbyEnglish association football player and manager (1949-2024)
- Viv AstonEnglish footballer (1918-1999)
- Viv StephensNew Zealand cricketer1953–2021
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Viv, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Vicky
“victory”
>99% girls
Valora
“strong and valiant”
>99% girls
Kim
“as precious as gold”
17% boys · 83% girls
Deirdre
“a brokenhearted or raging woman”
>99% girls
Valorie
“strong and valiant”
>99% girls
Venus
“love”
1% boys · 99% girls
Mimi
Mimi is used as a given name and a surname. Mimi is connected with Maria.
>99% girls
Valli
“between the mountains”
>99% girls