Fun Facts About the Name Shivan
- 210 babies named Shivan: U.S. records list 210 babies given the name Shivan from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Shivan Mean?
Shivan is chiefly a South Asian name meaning "auspicious, benign" and used as a name of the Hindu god Shiva. It goes back to Sanskrit śiva, an adjective meaning "auspicious, kindly, favorable." The final -n reflects the Tamil form of the name, Civaṉ, in which a masculine ending is added to the Sanskrit stem; English spellings include Sivan and Shivan. The literal sense of the word is "auspicious"; its customary force as a personal name is "Shiva" or "belonging to Shiva."
Within Indian tradition, śiva is sometimes derived from the root śī-, "to lie, rest, dwell," and explained as "in whom all things rest." That traditional etymology is not settled; the word is also treated as a primary adjective meaning "auspicious, beneficent," with no verbal root required.
Shivan is separately a Kurdish masculine name, from Kurdish şivan, "shepherd." This is a distinct origin rather than a branch of the Sanskrit name; the two look alike only in Latin-alphabet spelling. A third, unrelated word is the Hebrew month name Sivan (סִיוָן), from Akkadian simānu, "season," which is sometimes used as an Israeli given name but is usually spelled without the h.
Shivan Name History & Origins
Sanskrit śiva appears in the Rigveda as an epithet meaning "auspicious," applied to gods including Rudra and Indra. By the late Vedic period the word is used as a name for Rudra himself, and from then on Shiva is both a divine name and a common element in Indian personal names.
In Tamil-speaking South India the name is Civaṉ, commonly written Sivan; the seventh-to-ninth-century Shaiva hymns of the Tevaram address the god by this name. Sivan, and the spelling Shivan, are used as given names in Tamil Nadu and, through Tamil migration, in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius. In northern India the shorter forms Shiva and Shiv are more usual; Shivam, though it sounds close, is a separate word, the neuter śivam, "auspiciousness."
The Kurdish name Şivan comes from the ordinary Kurdish noun for a shepherd and is used in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. It has no historical connection to the Indic name; the matching English spelling is a coincidence of romanization.
How Popular is the Name Shivan?
Shivan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #6,135 in 1989.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,149 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #12,095 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #6,166 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #8,866 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #8,067 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #9,418 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #8,763 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #9,529 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #13,941 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #8,070 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #8,038 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #13,903 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #14,031 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #9,723 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #14,078 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2004 | #11,143 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #10,671 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #6,972 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #8,195 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #7,311 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #11,353 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #11,057 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #7,176 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #8,719 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,302 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #6,135 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #6,822 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #7,674 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Shivan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Shivan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shivan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.