Spelling check - Vivien/Vivienne/Vivian

Girl Names
1

See the results of this poll: Favourite spelling?

Respondents: 77 (This poll is closed)

  • Vivien : 10 (13%)
  • Vivian : 27 (35%)
  • Vivienne: 40 (52%)
2

Well, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] is the masculine spelling to me, and [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] doesn’t look complete, so I voted for the lovely [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f].

3

That was my thinking too.

4

[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] or [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f].

5

I like [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] best, though I don’t mind [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f].

6

For me [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] is the only way of spelling it :slight_smile:

7

Completely agree!

8

[name_u]Vivian[/name_u] because it looks common. I know that’s something people dread on hearing but honestly, [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] looks super pretentious to me, [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] less so, but both make me emphasize the -enne and -en part. [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] was also once a boy’s name so naturally there is a feminine form, how about [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], pronounced [name_f]Viv[/name_f]-ee-[name_m]AH[/name_m]-nah? I think it sounds so much more beautiful, unless you want to honor a family member with [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], then I understand.

[name_f]Edit[/name_f]: Also, [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] can also be the [name_m]French[/name_m] masculine form.

9

[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]!!!

10

[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] always looks more balanced and complete to me

11

Vivienne. The best way, IMO.

12

I pronounce [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] and [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] slightly differently - vih-vee-in versus vih-vee-en. Very slight difference but I would choose whichever pronunciation you’re going for. [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] just looks like an incomplete [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] to me.

13

[name_u]Vivian[/name_u] - [name_f]VIV[/name_f]-ee-n
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] - viv-ee-ENNE
[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] doesn’t look like a legitimate spelling to me, I would pick either of the other too.

14

Here are my thoughts:

[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] - The most elegant and sophisticated spelling.
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u] - The more sporty, spunky, and modern spelling.
[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] - The least common variation, though carries its own understated beauty. (I’m fond of names ending in “-en” as opposed to “-an” a lot of the time.)

I think overall I would personally choose [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]. But all three are lovely, and it really depends on what you’re going for in a name!

15

[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] looks awkward, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] looks dated and [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] looks gorgeous :).

16

I feel like sometimes less is more, so in that sense, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] is my favorite spelling among the three. It’s simple, straightforward and in my opinion the right balance between feminine and sensible/practical. I don’t see a girl with this name spelling having trouble in finding a keychain or with others writing or pronouncing her name wrong. I also think it’s the option that “travels” the best. I have met American, European and even Latin American ladies of all age ranges with this name and spelled like this. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

When I see [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f], I see something stylish, ultrafeminine and [name_m]French[/name_m], something that is a tiny bit of a hassle if you aren’t [name_m]French[/name_m] or living in a Francophone area. I also pronounce [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] differently than the other two, more [name_f]Viv[/name_f]-ee-ENNE or Vee-Vyenne, as opposed to [name_f]Viv[/name_f]-Yen.

[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] is lovely and reminiscent of the great actress [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u], although she was born with her name spelled [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]… I see [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] as being the least practical of the three as it will always require an explanation or instructions in term of spelling.

17

Thanks everyone! Interesting range of responses.

[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] was objected to by my DH on the grounds of frilliness. I like it, and the balance of two-of-every-letter, but it does feel very ornamented, and I’m usually a person who takes [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] over [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] over [name_f]Juliette[/name_f].

Husband’s favourite was simple, classic [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]. It is well-known - I found out after I posted it’s been in the US Top Thousand every year since 1880. I originally feared it would be the least liked. I’m glad it did okay.

[name_u]Vivien[/name_u] was actually my original inclination - and I do think of [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]. But the husband thinks it will always be mispelled, and that it’s a bit contrived looking? It actually hasn’t charted since the '40s. I am not sure I want to intentionally pick the least common spelling just-because, when the others also have a long history of use.

[name_f]Viviana[/name_f] is beautiful but at 4 syllables that would bring the total count of name to 10 syllables. And it’s is less tied to the Arthurian legend side, which I rather like.

Thanks again for giving me [name_u]Berry[/name_u] takes on it.