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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on Vivienne?

87 replies

Kiwilime · 17/11/2023 23:13

What do you think of the name Vivienne? Any negative associations I should know about?

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Housewife2010 · 19/11/2023 20:31

dayswithaY · 18/11/2023 16:31

By the time a baby Vivienne goes to school I highly doubt a single child there would have heard of The Young Ones, or Pretty Woman. Viv Nicholson who won the Pools in the 1970s? Clutching at straws with that one.

I love it, it reminds me of the actress Vivienne Leigh, and I prefer that spelling, much prettier.

She was Vivien Leigh. She was born Vivian Hartley. She was advised to change to the Vivien spelling as it was more feminine.

KirstenBlest · 19/11/2023 19:09

VivienneDelacroix · 19/11/2023 01:25

It's a lovely name, and French feminine spelling Vivienne is definitely the nicest. Vivien is the masculine version (although pronounced the same in English - they aren't in French).

Vivian is a man's name. Vivien is the usual feminine form.

nameXname · 19/11/2023 18:55

Vivian is the masculine form, not as previous poster says. Just like - as a different previous poster says - the immensely talented sportsman Viv Richardson.

In the UK, Vivien is the female form - as in he beautiful but doomed actress Vivien Leigh.

To my mind, the French 'nne' version is too fussy and too frilly. In English, the spelling also changes the pronounciation, from Vi-vi-en to (IMHO) the less elegant Vivi-ENNE.

PickledScrump · 19/11/2023 17:46

I absolutely love Vivienne, the thought of people pronouncing it as Vivian put me off though. It’s a gorgeous name

CherryMyBrandy · 19/11/2023 03:28

Don't like it. Don't like "Viv" which people will use. And reminds me of the Young Ones.

DiscoBeat · 19/11/2023 01:27

Beautiful name

VivienneDelacroix · 19/11/2023 01:25

It's a lovely name, and French feminine spelling Vivienne is definitely the nicest. Vivien is the masculine version (although pronounced the same in English - they aren't in French).

pastypirate · 19/11/2023 01:24

Love it. Prefer Vi as in vye as a diminutive over Viv.

I think it's very classy and she won't be called Vivienne whatever your surname is for every because it's unlikely she will meet that many others.

fixies · 19/11/2023 01:11

Love it!

haribosmarties · 19/11/2023 01:06

I think it's beautiful

SammyScrounge · 19/11/2023 00:28

Sorry predictive text. I meant Vivienne of course.

SammyScrounge · 19/11/2023 00:27

Vividness is a very pretty name

Warmandbright · 18/11/2023 23:35

Love it. No. 1 girls name for me but dh is hard no so I don’t think we’ll use it if we have a girl!

Holidayhell22 · 18/11/2023 23:09

Absolutely love it.

coldcallerbaiter · 18/11/2023 23:08

Like it

SirVixofVixHall · 18/11/2023 23:05

love it.

Moonshine5 · 18/11/2023 23:04

Heart this

olivialennox · 18/11/2023 23:03

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 18/11/2023 16:51

But she was Vivian, not Vivienne and anyway, Selma Blair is a GODDESS

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This! Plus she turns out to be nice in the end :)

RobertaFirmino · 18/11/2023 22:53

How about Viviane, after the fabulous Viv Albertine? Has anyone mentioned Viv Richards yet? He was a cricketing legend.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 18/11/2023 16:51

namestevalian · 18/11/2023 00:10

The bitchy girl in legally blonde

But she was Vivian, not Vivienne and anyway, Selma Blair is a GODDESS

PuppyMonkey · 18/11/2023 16:48

It’s Vivien Leigh though. Smile

KirstenBlest · 18/11/2023 16:48

@dayswithaY , but their parents and teachers might.

dayswithaY · 18/11/2023 16:31

By the time a baby Vivienne goes to school I highly doubt a single child there would have heard of The Young Ones, or Pretty Woman. Viv Nicholson who won the Pools in the 1970s? Clutching at straws with that one.

I love it, it reminds me of the actress Vivienne Leigh, and I prefer that spelling, much prettier.

BelleNoir · 18/11/2023 16:25

Absolutely beautiful name

Sexnotgender · 18/11/2023 16:24

Love it, was on my list for DD.