[ani'smommy]

I have wanted for years to name a baby girl Vivian. I think it is a beautiful name, and it was my grandma's name. It seems like I'm hearing it more and more though. We named our first DD Anneke and now I'm hearing that name everywhere I go. (Although this is a pretty Dutch community, so maybe that is why.)<br><br>
What do you think?

 

[broodymama]

I don't know too many people named Vivian, just one friend that is in her 40s. That being said, I love the name (maybe because it has a great association for me because of my friend) and think it is a beautiful name for a little girl. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[ginnyjuice]

If you are inthe US, you might find this site to be helpful:<br><a href="http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html" target="_blank">http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html</a><br><br>
I love checking names in there and am often surprised at what is becoming popular!

 

[PiePie]

No. It is 200-something on the Social Security list. That is not popular in my book.

 

[steph76]

The only one I know is my 90 y.o. grandmother. She is Vivian Nell.<br>
She goes by Nell and always hated Vivian

 

[BF124497]

I don't think it's popular, but I've known of several Vivians. They were all lovely and gracious, like the name. I think it's beautiful and classic.

 

[GinaRae]

Vivian is pretty, but not popular again yet. Go for it!<br><br>
I love the name Ruby. My great grandma who I think would have been 101 this August was named Ruby. I think a lot of those names for women are coming back as new again.

 

[HarperRose]

I LOVE Vivian. I only know 1 - she's about 10 yrs old. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
My mother has "forbade" me to use it because it has negative connotations for her. (Apparently my father cheated w/ some chick named Vivian.) All I can think of is classic Hollywood actresses and gracious ppl would be named Vivian. I know nothing of this woman my mother hates so much.<br><br>
I think it's such a pretty name. Go for it, if you like it!

 

[chinaKat]

If you love the name, why do you care if it's "popular"? You should use it, it's a beautiful name! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
[tangent]This comes up all the time on MDC, I don't understand the current obsession with every single child having a totally unique name.<br><br>
I guess I don't get it b/c I have a relatively "popular" name and it never bothered me or adversely affected me one bit. [/tangent]

 

[Sabo]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>chinaKat</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8004452"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">[tangent]This comes up all the time on MDC, I don't understand the current obsession with every single child having a totally unique name.<br><br>
I guess I don't get it b/c I have a relatively "popular" name and it never bothered me or adversely affected me one bit. [/tangent]</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I think that's it. I grew up as the only Alexis and then in the 90's I heard all these little girls being yelled at in grocery stores with my name. If you've had an unpopular name and it becomes popular, it can be odd. Also, there are some people with "popular" names who get annoyed that they never get to be just their first name. Its always a class with Jennifer B. and Jennifer M. or the like.<br><br>
BTW: Vivian is a wonderful name and it doesn't seem too popular to me.

 

[chinaKat]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Sabo</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8004550"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I think that's it. I grew up as the only Alexis and then in the 90's I heard all these little girls being yelled at in grocery stores with my name. If you've had an unpopular name and it becomes popular, it can be odd. Also, there are some people with "popular" names who get annoyed that they never get to be just their first name. Its always a class with Jennifer B. and Jennifer M. or the like.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
The funny thing is, you can have an unusual name and then still have to "share" -- I went to a VERY small elementary school growing up in the 70's, but there were TWO girls named Alexis in my class -- really!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[HarperRose]

I didn't like my name for awhile as a kid (2nd grade) because I didn't know anyone else named Carrie!<br><br>
Now I like it and I know very few w/ the same spelling. The only one I can think of is strange. And she gives her 3 mo old juice. Yikes.<br><br>
Anyway, I like my name now.

 

[hubris]

I usually check this stuff with the <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/" target="_blank">Social Security baby names site</a>. I looked at the popularity of "Vivian" across the last few years as well as how it ranked in the 90s and 80s. For the past few years Vivian has hovered around #220-230. To me, that indicates a name that is not exceedingly rare, but also not terribly common. You would probably occasionally meet another child named Vivian, but it would be unlikely that there would be two or more Vivians in your kid's kindergarten class. Looking at the 2005 list, I'd say the names in the top 100-150 are the ones that I meet kids with those names all the time.<br><br>
It looks like Vivian's popularity has been on the rise over the past couple of decades - it around 500 in 1985, the 300s in 1995. My DS1's name has very similar numbers. I don't often meet another kid with his name, but it's not considered totally unusual by people and sometimes I meet people who know another child with that name.<br><br>
I don't know any children named Vivian, and I think it's a very pretty name!

 

[HeatherB]

Vivian fits my criteria as a name that everyone would be familiar with, but that not many people have. If it's a special name to you, I think it's a perfect choice!<br><br>
FWIW, I've known a few Vivians, but all have been a generation or two older than I.

 

[Breathless Wonder]

Go for it!<br>
Even if it is ranked high nationwide, it may not be terribly popular in your area!

 

[ani'smommy]

Thanks all! I guess I'm not terribly concerned with popularity -- it's more that I don't want the name to be suddenly "trendy" and then get some kind of connotation, yk?<br><br>
I do love the name, and I also like names that people are familiar with. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I think if it's a girl, we'll probably go for it.

 

[inkedmamajama]

i love vivian!

 

[PixieLittle]

I would use Vivian but I can't because our last name starts with D. Alas, the unfortunate initials. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/duh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="duh"> Maybe I can sneak it in as a middle name, as long as the first doesn't start with B.<br><br>
But really I've always liked Vivian, she's the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend.

 

[HeatherB]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>PixieLittle</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8008158"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would use Vivian but I can't because our last name starts with D. Alas, the unfortunate initials. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/duh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="duh"> Maybe I can sneak it in as a middle name, as long as the first doesn't start with B.<br><br>
But really I've always liked Vivian, she's the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> My mom's initials after her second marriage, keeping her first married name due to my sister and I, are "BVD." <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[hellyaellen]

haven't read all the other replies but i LOVE that name. i wouldn't consider it to be popular though. i can't think of anyone other than vivien leigh. maybe its just on your radar right now? you know like you buy a car and then start seeing the same make/model EVERYWHERE....