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Baby names

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

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.

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Trinacham · 01/06/2021 07:29

Vivian - Only girl in the UK
Darcy - Only girl in the UK

Poorlykitten · 01/06/2021 07:26

If you google it, it says ‘Vivian is primarily a female name’ If that helps.

Original poster
Leeloo1233 · 01/06/2021 07:26

@overnightangel

Only male Vivian I can think of is Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard (*misses point of thread & disappears to put them on loud and blow hangover cobwebs away)
This made me lol!
OP posts:
overnightangel · 01/06/2021 07:24

Only male Vivian I can think of is Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard (*misses point of thread & disappears to put them on loud and blow hangover cobwebs away)

Vivian boy/girl?
Original poster
Leeloo1233 · 01/06/2021 07:19

That's interesting that the spelling Vivien is a girl in the UK as in France both Vivian/Vivien are masculine and Viviane is the feminine Confused

OP posts:
daisypond · 01/06/2021 07:15

Vivien for a girl. Vivian for a boy. The Young Ones character is Vyvyan.

BertieBotts · 01/06/2021 07:15

It makes me think of The Young ones As well. If that's an association you don't want I would probably think about it. I'm 32 and too young to have seen it on TV originally but am aware of it in culture etc. Anyone younger probably wouldn't be.

DisgruntledPelican · 01/06/2021 07:15

Yep, unisex name but forever connected with Vyvyan from The Young Ones for me if used for a boy! Shame really as for boys I like similar unisex-but-strongly-female names like Lindsay, Hilary, Tracy. Due a revival for this generation soon.

Vivian/Vivienne is lovely for a girl.

WeAreTheHeroes · 01/06/2021 07:12

In the UK traditionally Vivian = boy's name, Vivien or Vivienne = girl's name. Like Leslie and Lesley.

Cowbells · 01/06/2021 07:11

It's unisex but way way more popular for girls. The only male Vivian I can think of is the punk in The Young Ones. I'd never use it for a boy but it's up there in the top ten for girls. Love it.

Aurorie11 · 01/06/2021 07:10

Vivian - boy
Vivien or Vivienne - girl

Poorlykitten · 01/06/2021 07:09

Unisex name here but reminds me massively of Vivian from the Young Ones. ( But I am old! 😂).

SoMuchForSummerLove · 01/06/2021 07:09

I guess it's unisex but it'd be really very rare to meet a male Vivian these days. I've only ever known female Vivians.

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