Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

Vivian boy/girl?

38 replies

Leeloo1233 · 01/06/2021 07:05

I love the name Vivian for a girl. It is strictly a girl's name in Scandinavia, but a boy's name in France.

How about in the UK? Is it more like a uni-sex name like Darcy or definitely a boy's name? What would you think if you'd meet a girl Vivian? The spelling Vivienne is not an option for us due to pronounciation.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Chilldonaldchill · 03/06/2021 08:52

I only know a couple (both born in the 70s) but they are girls. Both spelt Vivien though and I was at school with a couple of Viviennes.
I think I'd assume any Vivian was a girl unless they had a very French/European surname in which case I'd probably wonder...

Phyllis321 · 03/06/2021 07:32

Vyvyan?

shallIswim · 03/06/2021 07:26

I know 2 circa 60 year old male Vivians - both known as the blokey 'Viv'
Neither particularly attractive characters but that's besides the point!

TheCheeseAlarm · 03/06/2021 07:16

It's DS2's middle name (after his granddad). I love it for a boy but was talked out of using it for a first name which I still regret and he's 20!

It is definitely more usually used for girls though.

AuntieStella · 03/06/2021 07:15

Spelt Vivian then a boy, but I have come across a girl given the masculine form

Vivienne is definitely a girl

From the sound, it's unisex.

Bit like Leslie and Lesley

BikeRunSki · 03/06/2021 07:12

I went to primary school in the 1970swith a make, French Vivian, and secondary school in the 1980s with a different male Vivian. My time at secondary school completely coincided with Viv Richard’s glory years and the original broadcasts of The Young Ones, so all the Vivian/Vyvyans I’ve know are male. My sister lives in France and her old man neighbour is also Vivian. I realise I’m in the minority, but I’ve never come across a female Vivian/Vivien apart from Ms Leigh.

SummeHoliday · 03/06/2021 07:06

Clive James started life as Vivian

Fyredraca · 03/06/2021 06:58

They'll spend their life spelling it for people.
One of my female friends is Vivian.

sashh · 03/06/2021 06:53

Morning all.

Well F and F are off again today but have helpfully made up picnic baskets and flasks.

I'm just going to have a coffee in the garden and watch the kitten bees.

itssquidstella · 02/06/2021 17:26

It's unisex but VERY old-fashioned for a boy (shame, because I love it).

zingally · 02/06/2021 17:15

Would never have known it was unisex... I'd always have assumed girl.

sashh · 02/06/2021 11:57

In the young ones it was Vyvyan. Misses point of thread

Missillusioned · 02/06/2021 09:52

Even in The Young Ones in the 80s Vivian was teased by the other characters for having a girls name.

KirstenBlest · 02/06/2021 09:48

@Poorlykitten, I agree, and so is Viviana.

The -ana names are mostly IMO ugly. All I hear is the first but then the AHNuh, which isn't a nice sound.

Poorlykitten · 02/06/2021 09:11

Vivianna is a terrible name. 😂

partyatthepalace · 01/06/2021 19:37

It’s technically unisex but I think it’s very rare for a boy now

Vivien or Vivienne is the usual female spelling in the UK these days. It seems to be starting to lift in popularity.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 01/06/2021 13:42

In the UK, technically it's supposed to be Vivien for a girl (like actress Vivien Leigh , who interestingly was born Vivian and changed the spelling).

However you will only occasionally meet male Vivian's here now (and certainly no young ones ). Like Evelyn, Vivien/Vivian has gone pretty much entirely to the girls side. I think it's a lovely name - retro/vintage but fits in with the popular V heavy names (Ava, Evelyn, Evie etc).

TatianaBis · 01/06/2021 12:24

I like the name Viva (pronounced Veeva).

RuthW · 01/06/2021 12:15

I know it's unisex but definitely female to me.

Potcallingkettle · 01/06/2021 12:04

What about Viviana?

Lemur12 · 01/06/2021 12:04

I only know one Vivian - a man, who must be in his 50s by now. So, I'd assume a man, but it's not that common, so I wouldn't be shocked by a girl being called Vivian. Vivienne would definitely be a girl.

bridgetreilly · 01/06/2021 11:59

Viviane would be better for a girl if you can't use Vivienne.

I would assume Vivian was a boy.

Amdone123 · 01/06/2021 10:20

It's mainly used for girls I think. Though my first thought was Viv Richards, the cricketer.

KirstenBlest · 01/06/2021 09:57

Old man's name.

Vivien or Vivienne will be Viv.

Posieandpip · 01/06/2021 08:18

Very much a girl's name these days!

Unflip

1 2