Vivian (and variants such as Vivien and Vivienne) is a given name, and less often a surname, derived from a Latin name of the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post- Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Medite ...

period, masculine '' Vivianus'' and feminine '' Viviana'', which survived into modern use because it is the name of two early Christian female martyrs as well as of a male saint and bishop.

History and variants

The Latin name Vivianus is recorded from the 1st century. It is ultimately related to the adjective ''vivus'' "alive", but it is formed from the compound form ''vivi-'' and the adjectival suffix used to form '' cognomina''. The latinate given name Vivianus was of limited popularity in the medieval period in reference to

Saint Vivianus Vivianus (also Bibianus; died c. 490) was an early saint of the French (Francian) church and the first known bishop of Saintes. A brief ''Life'' of his dated to the mid 6th century was edited by Krush in 1896.MGH, SRM 3 (1896), 94-100. Krusch tho ...

, a 5th-century

bishop of Saintes The former French diocese of Saintes existed from the 6th century to the French Revolution. Its bishops had their see in the cathedral of Saintes in western France, in the modern department of Charente-Maritime. After the Concordat of 1801 ...

; the feminine name was that of Saint Viviana (Bibiana), a 4th-century martyr whose veneration in Rome is ascertained for the 5th century. In Arthurian legend, Vivian in its various spellings is one of the names of the Lady of the Lake. The name was brought to England with the Norman invasion, and is occasionally recorded in England in the 12th and 13th centuries. The masculine given name appears with greater frequency in the early modern period. The spelling Vivian was historically used only as a masculine name, and is still used as such in the UK with this spelling, but in the 19th century was also given to girls and was a unisex name until the early part of the 20th century; since the mid 20th century, it has been almost exclusively given as a feminine name in the United States. Use of Vivian as a feminine name peaked in popularity in the United States in 1920 at rank 64, but declined in the second half of the 20th century, falling below rank 500 in the 1980s. Its popularity has again picked up somewhat since the 1990s, as of 2012 having attained rank 140. Variants of the feminine name include Viviana, Viviane, and Vivienne. The French feminine spelling Vivienne in the United States rose sharply in recent years from below rank 1,000 (no statistical record) to rank 322 in the period 2009–2012. The Italian or Latin form ''Viviana'' has enjoyed some popularity since the 1990s, reaching rank 322 in 2000. The spelling Vivien is the French masculine form, but in English speaking countries it has long been used as a feminine form, due to its appearance as the name of the Arthurian Lady of the Lake in Tennyson's '' Idylls of the King'' of 1859."Vivien" at Behind the Name
/ref> For the masculine name, the variant Vyvyan has sometimes been used, based on the Cornish surname itself derived from the given name. The intermediary form Vyvian is also occasionally found. The Gaelic name Ninian has sometimes been identified as a corruption of Vivian, but it is now considered more likely derived from Welsh Nynniaw, which is itself of uncertain origin, but likely renders Nennius. Bébinn is an unrelated, genuinely Gaelic name which has on occasion been rendered as Vivian in English.

As a surname

The given name ''Vivian'' was introduced to Norman England in the 11th or 12th century and over time gave rise to a variety of British surnames, including Videan, Vidgen, Vidgeon, Fiddian, Fidgeon, Phythian, Phethean. The Vyvyan family has been a prominent family of Cornwall since the 16th century. The Vyvyan baronetcy was created in the

Baronetage of England Baronets are a rank in the British aristocracy. The current Baronetage of the United Kingdom has replaced the earlier but existing Baronetages of England, Nova Scotia, Ireland, and Great Britain. Baronetage of England (1611–1705) King James ...

for Sir Richard Vyvyan in 1645. Baron Vivian was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1841. Notable bearers of the surname include: * C. T. Vivian (1924–2020), American minister and author * Herbert Vivian (1865-1940), British journalist and leader of the Neo-Jacobite Revival * Ivor Vivian (born 1933), Australian politician * Jennifer Vyvyan (1925-1974) English classical soprano singer * John Lambrick Vivian (1830–1896), genealogist of Devon and Cornwall * Joseph Vivien (1657–1735), French painter * Renée Vivien (1877–1909), British poet in the French language * Weston E. Vivian (1924–2020), American politician * William Vyvyan, 14th-century English MP

List of individuals with the name

Masculine given name

Vivian

* Vivian Anderson (born 1956), English football coach and defender * Vivian Balakrishnan (born 1961), Singaporean politician * Vivian Bendall (born 1938), English Conservative politician * Vivian Blake (1956–2010), Jamaican criminal * Vivian Blake (politician) (1921–2000), Jamaican politician and chief justice of the Bahamas * Vivian Bose (1891–1983), judge of the Supreme Court of India *

Vivian de Buffrénil Vivian de Buffrénil is a French histologist and paleobiologist who has been working at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris since 1982. His doctorate (1980) and his doctorat d'état (1990), a diploma now replaced by the habilitation ...

(born 1950), French histologist and palaeobiologist * Vivian Campbell (born 1962), Northern Irish heavy metal guitarist *

Vivian Cook (linguist) Vivian James Cook (13 June 1940 – 10 December 2021) was a British linguist who was Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at Newcastle University. He was renowned for his work on second-language acquisition and second-language teaching, ...

(born 1940), English linguist and professor of Applied Linguistics at Newcastle University * Vivian Crawford (1879–1922), English first-class cricketer * Vivian Dsena (born 1988), Indian TV actor * Vivian Ellis (1904–1996), English musical comedy composer * Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons (1901–1975), South African herpetologist * Sir Vivian Fuchs (1908–1999), English explorer to first cross Antarctica overland * Vivian Hunter Galbraith (1889–1976), English historian and Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford University, Oxford *

Vivian H. H. Green Vivian Hubert Howard Green (18 November 1915 – 18 January 2005) was a Fellow and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, a priest, author, teacher, and historian. He was also celebrated for his influence on his pupil at Sherborne School and later at ...

(1915–2005), rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, and inspiration for John le Carré's character George Smiley *

Vivian Harris Ivan Vivian Harris (born June 17, 1978) is a Guyanese former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2018. He held the WBA super lightweight title from 2002 to 2005. Amateur career After Harris arrived in the U.S., he began his amateur ...

(born 1978), Guyanese boxer *

Vivian Wilson Henderson Vivian Wilson Henderson (February 10, 1923 – January 28, 1976) was an American educator and human rights activist, and the eighth president of Clark Atlanta University. Vivian Wilson Henderson became President of Clark College in 1963, at the a ...

(1923–1976), American educator and human rights activist * Vivian Imerman (born 1955), South African businessman and former CEO of Del Monte Foods *

Vivian Jackson Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work. Biography Jack ...

(1946–2010), Jamaican reggae musician also known as Yabby You *

Clive Vivian Leopold James Clive James (born Vivian Leopold James; 7 October 1939 – 24 November 2019) was an Australian critic, journalist, broadcaster, writer and lyricist who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1962 until his death in 2019.Sir Vivian Naylor-Leyland, 3rd Baronet Sir Vivyan (or Vyvian) Edward Naylor-Leyland, 3rd Baronet (1924-1987) was a British aristocrat and banker. Biography Early life Vivian Edward Naylor-Leyland was born on 5 March 1924. urke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vo ...

(1924–1987), British aristocrat and banker * Viv Richards (born 1952), Antiguan cricketer and sports commentator * Vivian Roy Stanley Schokman (1887-1953), Sri Lankan Burgher politician and physician * Major General Vivian Street (1912–1970), British army officer, also known for his charitable work, particularly as chairman of the Save the Children fund * Vivian Van Damm (1895–1960), English impresario of the Windmill Theatre, London *

Vivian Wineman Vivian Wineman (born 14 February 1950) was president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the representative body of the Jewish community in Britain, from 2009 to 2015. Early life He was born in London, on 14 February 1950, to Joseph and D ...

(born 1950), commercial lawyer, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews 2009–2015 * Vivian Woodward (1879–1954), English centre forward footballer

Vivien

* Vivien Thomas (1910–1985), American surgical technician

Vyvyan

* Vyvyan Adams (1900–1951), British Conservative Party politician *

Vyvyan Donnithorne The Venerable Vyvyan Henry Donnithorne, MC, MA (8 January 1886 – 12 December 1968) was Archdeacon of Western Szechwan from 1935 to 1949. Biography Vyvyan Donnithorne was of Cornish descent. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, Clare ...

(1886–1968), British Anglican missionary to China *

Vyvyan Evans Vyvyan Evans (born ) is a British cognitive linguist, digital communication technologist, popular science author, science fiction author and public intellectual. He has published fifteen books, both non-fiction and fiction. He holds a Ph.D. in L ...

, professor of Linguistics * Vyvyan Evelegh (1898–1958), British Army Second World War major-general * Vyvyan Holland (1886–1967), English author/translator, second son of Oscar Wilde *

Vyvyan Holt Captain Sir Vyvyan Holt (1896 – 2 July 1960) was a British soldier, diplomat, and Oriental scholar, who was held captive by North Korea for nearly three years during the Korean War. Biography Born in London in 1896, the son of Teresa and A ...

(1896–1960), British soldier, diplomat, and Oriental scholar * Vyvyan Pope (1891–1941), British Army Second World War lieutenant-general

Vyvian

Vyvian Pike Vyvian John Pike (born 13 August 1969) is a former English cricketer. Pike was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break. Pike made his debut for Dorset in the 1993 Minor Counties Championship against Cornwall. In Pike's first spell with the ...

(born 1969), English cricketer

Stage name or nickname

*"Vivian", a nickname given to Chaim Herzog in the 1940s * Vivian Stanshall, stage name of Victor Anthony Stanshall (1943–1995), English comedic musician * The Vivienne, stage name of James Lee Williams, British drag queen

Feminine given name

Late antiquity

The spelling of these names may differ depending on tradition. * Saint Vibiana (3rd century) * Saint Vivian (4th century)

Vivian

* Vivian Inez Archibald (born 1945), British Virgin Islander politician *

Vivian Bang Vivian may refer to: * Vivian (name), a given name and also a surname Toponyms * Vivian, Louisiana, U.S. * Vivian, South Dakota, U.S. * Vivian, West Virginia, U.S. * Vivian Island, Nunavut, Canada * Ballantrae, Ontario, a hamlet in Stouffv ...

(born 1983), American actress * Vivian Cheruiyot (born 1983), Kenyan long-distance runner *

Vivian Chukwuemeka Vivian Peters-Chukwuemeka (born 4 May 1975) is a Nigerian shot putter and two-time Olympian. She won the gold medal in the shot put at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has won three consecutive titles at the All-Africa Games from 1999 to 2007. She ...

(born 1975), Nigerian shot putter *

Vivian Dandridge Vivian Alferetta Dandridge (April 22, 1921 – October 26, 1991) was an American singer, actress and dancer. Dandridge is best known for being the older sister of actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge and the daughter of actress Ruby Dandridg ...

(1921–1991), American actress *

Vivian Flowers Vivian Flowers is a state legislator in Arkansas. She serves in the Arkansas House of Representatives and is a Democrat. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. She lives in Pine Bluff, Arkansas Pine Bluff is the eleventh-largest cit ...

(born c. 1969), American politician *

Vivian Gornick Vivian Gornick (born June 14, 1935) is an American radical feminist critic, journalist, essayist, and memoirist. Early Life and Education In 1957 Gornick received a bachelor of arts degree from City College of New York and in 1960 a master of ...

(born 1935), American author * Vivian Green (born 1979), American R&B singer * Vivi Janiss (1911–1988), American actress *

Vivian Joseph Vivian Joseph (born March 7, 1948) is an American former pair skater who competed with her brother, Ronald Joseph. They are the 1964 Olympic bronze medalists, 1965 World silver medalists, and 1965 North American champions. Personal life Vivi ...

(born 1948), American figure skater * Vivian Kong (born 1994), Hong Kong fencer *

Vivian Kubrick Vivian Vanessa Kubrick (born August 5, 1960), also credited under the pseudonym Abigail Mead, is an American-British filmmaker and composer. She is the daughter of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Early life Vivian Vanessa Kubrick was born on August ...

(born 1960), American-born English filmmaker and composer *

Vivian Maier Vivian Dorothy Maier (February 1, 1926 – April 21, 2009) was an American street photographer whose work was discovered and recognized after her death. She worked for about 40 years as a nanny, mostly in Chicago's North Shore, while pursuing ...

(1926–2009), American photographer * Vivian Nouri known professionally as NOURI (born 1993), New Zealand recording artist of Kurdish descent * Vivian Oparah (born 1996), British actress * Vivian Vance (1909–1979), American actress

Vivien

* Vivien Bishop (born 1945), New Zealand painter * Vivien Cardone (born 1993), American actress *

Vivien Duffield Dame Vivien Louise Duffield, (née Clore; born 26 March 1946) is an English philanthropist. Life and career Vivien Louise Clore was born to Jewish parents. Her father was millionaire businessman and philanthropist Sir Charles Clore and her mo ...

(born 1946), British philanthropist *

Vivien Hailstone Vivien Risling Hailstone (October 16, 1913 – July 8, 2000) was a Yurok/Karok basketweaver, jewelry designer, activist and educator who led efforts to sustain traditional basket weaving patterns and techniques. Hailstone also had an impact on sta ...

(1913–2000), Native American designer and educator *

Vivien Kirk Vivien Kirk is a New Zealand mathematician who studies dynamical systems. She is a professor of mathematics at the University of Auckland, where she also serves as associate dean, and was president of the New Zealand Mathematical Society for 201 ...

, New Zealand mathematician * Vivien Knight (1953–2009), British art historian and gallerist * Vivien Leigh, born Vivian Mary Hartley (1913–1967), English Academy Award-winning actress * Vivien Neves (1947–2002), British glamour model * Vivien Thomas (1910–1985), American laboratory supervisor

Viviane

* Viv Albertine (born 1954), British guitarist, songwriter and author * Viviane Araújo (born 1986), Brazilian mixed martial artist *

Viviane Bampassy Viviane Laure Elisabeth Bampassy is a Senegalese politician. She has been the Minister of Civil Service, Manpower Rationalisation and Public Service Renewal since 2014. Biography Bampassy graduated from the National School of Administration in 1 ...

, Senegalese politician *

Viviane Biviga Viviane Biviga is a Gabonese politician. She is the current National Secretary of Communications and Technology under the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party The Gabonese Democratic Party (french: Parti Démocratique Gabonais, abbreviated PDG), is ...

, Gabonese politician *

Vivi Fernandez Viviane Moreira Fernandes (born 29 September 1977), best known as Vivi Fernandez, is a Brazilian model, actress, dancer and former adult actress. Life and career Born in Brasília, Distrito Federal, the daughter of a retired soldier, Fernandes f ...

(born 1977), Brazilian model *

Viviane Hagner Viviane Hagner is a German violinist. She was born in Munich, Germany in 1977 (but grew up in Berlin), to a German father and Korean mother. She is sister to Nicole Hagner, the pianist. Hagner started studying the piano at age 3 before switc ...

(born 1977), German violinist * Viviane Ndour, Senegalese singer * Viviane Romance (1912–1991), French actress

Vivianne

Vivianne Blanlot Vivianne Amelia Blanlot Soza (born October 22, 1956 in La Serena, Chile) is a Chilean economist and politician. Her father Jorge Enrique Blanlot was an Army captain, and her grandfather General Enrique Blanlot Reisig. She has a degree in econom ...

(born 1956), Chilean economist and politician * Vivianne Crowley, English author, university lecturer, psychologist, and teacher of the Wiccan religion * Vivianne Fock Tave, Seychellois diplomat * Vivianne Miedema (born 1996), Dutch forward footballer * Vivianne Pasmanter (born 1971), Brazilian actress * Viviane Ventura, Mother of Sheherazade Goldsmith and author

Vivienne

Vivienne Boyd Dame Vivienne Myra Boyd (née Lowe, 11 April 1926 – 13 July 2011) was a New Zealand woman active in community and public affairs. Early life and family Born Vivienne Myra Lowe in Lower Hutt on 11 April 1926, Boyd was the daughter of Winif ...

(1926–2011), New Zealand politician * Vivienne Binns (born 1940), Australian artist *

Vivienne Chandler Vivienne Chandler (6 November 1947 – 6 June 2013) was an Anglo-French actress and a professional photographer. Biography Chandler made her first appearance on TV in ''ITV Playhouse'' in 1970, but immediately began acting minor parts in a nu ...

(born 1947), French actress and photographer * Vivienne Faull (born 1955), British Anglican bishop and Lord Spiritual *

Vivienne Goonewardene Violet Vivienne Goonewardene ( si, වයලට් විවියන් ගුන්වර්ධන, ta, வயலட் விவியென் கூனவர்தன; 18 September 19163 October 1996), commonly known as "Vivi", was a Sri Lan ...

(1916–1996), Sri Lankan politician *

Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot, also spelt Vivien (28 May 1888 – 22 January 1947), was the first wife of American-British poet T. S. Eliot, whom she married in 1915, less than three months after their introduction by mutual friends, when Vivienne ...

, also spelt Vivien (1888–1947), first wife of poet and writer

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biogr ...

Vivienne Malone-Mayes Vivienne Lucille Malone-Mayes (February 10, 1932 – June 9, 1995) was an American mathematician and professor. Malone-Mayes studied properties of functions, as well as methods of teaching mathematics.Vivienne Medrano (born 1992), Salvadorian American animator, illustrator, comic creator, and voice actress * Vivienne Ming, American theoretical neuroscientist and artificial intelligence expert *

Vivienne Osborne Vivienne Osborne (born Vera Vivienne Spragg; December 10, 1896 – June 10, 1961) was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theatre and in silent and sound films. Career Osborne began her career on stage when s ...

(1896–1961), American stage and film actress * Vivienne (photographer) (1889–1982), British photographer and singer * Vivienne Pinay, Filipino-American drag queen *

Vivienne Roumani Vivienne Roumani-Denn is an American oral historian and filmmaker. She created the first web site of the Jews of Libya and she is the director of critically acclaimed films ''The Last Jews of Libya'' and ''Out of Print''. Filmography Early li ...

(born 1950), Libyan filmmaker * Vivienne Segal (1897–1992) American actress * Vivienne de Silva Boralessa (1930-2017), Sri Lankan singer * Vivienne Spence (born 1965), Jamaican track and field athlete * Vivienne Trumpy (1917–1975), stage name Vivi Gioi, Italian actress * Vivienne de Watteville (1900–1957), United Kingdom author * Vivienne Westwood (born 1941), English fashion designer

Vyvienne

* Vyvienne Long, Irish musician

Vyvyan

Vyvyan Lorrayne Vyvyan Lorrayne (20 April 1939 – August 2022) was a South African ballet dancer. Noted as a "softly classical stylist," she won acclaim as a principal dancer for England's Royal Ballet during the 1960s and 1970s. Early life and training Lorrayn ...

, South African ballerina

Vyvyane

* Vyvyane Loh, Chinese ''Hui-Shien'', Malaysian-American novelist, choreographer, and physician

Hypocoristic Vivi (used as given name in Scandinavia)

Vivi Bach Vivi Bach (3 September 1939 – 22 April 2013) was a Danish film actress. She appeared in 48 films between 1958 and 1974. Bach was born as Vivi Bak in Copenhagen, Denmark, and died on Ibiza, Spain, where she lived with her husband, the Aust ...

(1939–2013), Danish actress and singer *

Vivi Flindt Vivi Flindt (née Gelker; born 22 February 1943; Copenhagen) is a Danish dancer. She studied at the Royal Danish Ballet School, then joined the company, making her debut as Birgit Cullberg's ''Miss Julie'' in 1965 and being promoted to soloist in 1 ...

(born 1943), Danish ballerina *

Vivi Friedman Vivi Friedman (May 20, 1967 – January 2, 2012) was a Finnish film director. She produced the majority of her work in the United States. During her career she worked on advertisements and short films and directed a feature-length film, ''The F ...

(1967–2012), Finnish film director *

Vivi Krogh Vivi Krogh (18 October 1919 - 23 May 2014) was a Norwegian resistance member and leader of the anti-immigration group ''Organisasjon mot skadelig innvandring i Norge''. She was in 1981 convicted for anti-Islamic hate speech by the Norwegian Suprem ...

(born 1919), Norwegian anti-immigration activist

As a pseudonym or adopted name

* Vivian Chow (born 1967), Hong Kong singer and actress * Vivian Hsu (born 1975), Taiwanese singer, actress and model * Vivienne Poy (born 1941), politician * Vivienne Tam (born 1957), Hong Kong fashion designer * Vivean Gray, British TV and film actress (adopted name of Jean Vivra Gray)

Fictional characters

* Vivien, the Lady of the Lake, in Tennyson's ''Idylls of the King'' (1859) and elsewhere * Vivian Kudo (Yukiko Kudo), in Manga series ''Case Closed'' * Vivian Grey, hero of Benjamin Disraeli's eponymous first novel, published in 1826 *

Vivien de Monbranc Vivien may refer to: * Vivien (name), variant spelling * Vivien, Western Australia, an abandoned town in Australia * , a British destroyer launched in 1918 and sold in 1947 for scrapping See also * Saint-Vivien (disambiguation) * Vivienne * ...

, hero of a 12th-century French ''chanson de geste'' * Vivian Alamain, on the American soap opera ''Days of Our Lives'' *Vivien Harmon, one of the main characters in the American TV show '' American Horror Story'' *Vivian Volkoff, daughter of the main antagonist of '' Chucks season four *Vivian Joan Abbot Walker, one of the main characters of the novel '' Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood'' (1996) by Rebecca Wells *Vyvyan Basterd, character in the British comedy series '' The Young Ones'' *Vivian Ward, the title character in the film '' Pretty Woman'' (1990) *Vivian Banks, or "Aunt Viv" character in the American comedy series '' The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' *Vivian Sternwood, General Sternwood's oldest daughter and a key figure in Raymond Chandler's crime novel '' The Big Sleep'' (1939) *Vivian Smith-Smythe-Smith, a character from the Monty Python sketch " Upper Class Twit of the Year" * Vivienne, a character from the video game ''Dragon Age: Inquisition'' who can be recruited as a party member *Princess Vivian, from the American animated television series '' Sofia the First''; first appeared in ''The Shy Princess'' *Vyvyan Ayrs, a famous but reclusive male composer in David Mitchell's novel '' Cloud Atlas'' (2004) *

Vivian (Paper Mario) is a fictional character appearing in the 2004 role-playing video game '' Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''. She initially serves as an enemy to the player character Mario, later joining the player's party after he helps her. In the Jap ...

, one of the player's partners in the role-playing video game ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'' *Vivienne Deering, a character in British police drama '' No Offence'' *Vivian "Viv", a supporting character in Freeform's canceled show '' Siren'' *Vivian "Viv" Turner, Timmy Turner's cousin, and the main protagonist in '' The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder''

Notes

{{Given name English feminine given names English-language masculine given names English masculine given names English-language unisex given names English unisex given names