Liv
Norwegian name from Old Norse hlif, "protection" or "shield." Modern speakers also connect it to the Scandinavian word liv, "life."
Liv in 2025
Liv was given to 296 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1,706th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 11,200 babies born.
The history of Liv
Liv reached its highest point in 2017, when 437 babies were given the name, ranking 1,266th that year.
Across the 70 years of records since 1956, 6,901 babies have been named Liv. Half of them were born before 2017, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Liv by decade
| Decade | Babies named Liv | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10 | 9,682 |
| 1960s | 5 | 11,673 |
| 1970s | 129 | 4,947 |
| 1980s | 73 | 6,349 |
| 1990s | 84 | 9,709 |
| 2000s | 890 | 2,429 |
| 2010s | 3,443 | 1,266 |
| 2020s | 2,267 | 1,271 |
Where Liv is heading
Liv has fallen 25% over the past decade, from 396 babies in 2015 to 296 in 2025.
Names like Liv
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Liv.