Vivian

See also: vivían

English

Etymology

Early saints' name from Latin Vīviānus, and of its feminine form Vīviāna, probably from vīvus (“alive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvɪvi.ən/

• Audio (Southern England):

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Proper noun

Vivian

1. A male given name from Latin.
   • 1942, Caroline Mytinger, Headhunting in the Solomon Islands, Macmillan, page 13:

     Of the you're-going-to-get-it-anyway faction was a young Australian on board by the name, so help me, of Vivian Nankervis. - - - And he was beautiful, even with a name like Vivian; moreover, he had never been ill a day in his life.

2. A female given name from Latin.
   • 1990, Paul Theroux, Chicago Loop, Hamish Hamilton Ltd, →ISBN, page 70:

     'What's your name?' 'Vivian.' 'Isn't that one of the names that mean something?' She said, 'It means my mother used to go to the movies.'

3. A surname originating as a patronymic.
   • 1827, Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian Grey, E. L. Carey and A. Hart (1837), page 117:

     "Mr. Grey," asked her ladyship, "are you of Dorsetshire?" "My mother is a Dorsetshire woman; her family name is Vivian, which name I also bear - Sir Hargrave Vivian, of Chester Grange."

Related terms

• Viv
• Viviana
• Viviane
• Vivien
• Vivienne
• Vyvyan

Translations

male given name

• French: Vivian (fr), Vivien (fr)
• Occitan: Bebian m, Bébian m, Vivian m

female given name

• Danish: Vivian
• Finnish: Viivi (fi)
• French: Viviane (fr), Vivienne (fr)
• German: Vivien (de)
• Hungarian: Vivien (hu)
• Norwegian: Vivian (no)
• Swedish: Vivianne (sv)

Danish

Proper noun

Vivian

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Vivian

Estonian

Proper noun

Vivian

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Vivian

Related terms

• Viive, Viivika, Viivi

Norwegian

Proper noun

Vivian

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Vivian

Swedish

Proper noun

Vivian c (genitive Vivians)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Vivian

Related terms

• Vivi-Ann, Vivi-Anne, Viviann, Vivianne