Shiv is a boys' name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “auspicious, kind”, short form of Shiva. A short form of Shiva, one of the principal Hindu gods, whose name means auspicious.

Shiv

Gender: Boy
Say it: SHIV
Origin: Sanskrit
UK rank, 2025: #968 for boys
US rank, 2025: #1,753 for boys

Shiv is a boys' name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “auspicious, kind”. In 2025 it ranked 968th for boys in the UK (35 babies) and 1,753rd for boys in the US (92 babies).

What does Shiv mean?

Sanskrit: short form of Shiva

“auspicious, kind”

A short form of Shiva, one of the principal Hindu gods, whose name means auspicious.

Is Shiv a girl's or a boy's name?

Shiv is a boys' name. In 2025, it was given to 35 boys in the UK and 92 boys in the US. Too few girls were given it to be listed.

How popular is Shiv in the UK?

Rank in 2025: #968among boys
Babies in 2025: 35about 1 in 8,600 boys
Five-year trend: Risingup 52% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 boys

In 2025, 35 boys in the UK were named Shiv, making it the 968th most popular name for boys. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 1,206th. Its busiest year was 2023, with 37 boys.

Half of all the boys named Shiv in the UK since 1996 were born between 2006 and 2019. It was already well used in 1996, when the records begin, so earlier boys aren't counted.

Among boys in 2025, it was 896th in England and Wales.

1996Busiest: 37 in 20232025

Shiv in the UK, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2025	35	#968
2024	33	#1,003
2023	37	#930
2022	22	#1,312
2021	27	#1,134
2020	24	#1,206
2019	20	#1,351
2018	25	#1,173
2017	19	#1,428
2016	35	#956
2015	32	#1,005
2014	25	#1,162
2013	35	#919
2012	29	#1,051
2011	28	#1,056
2010	29	#1,047
2009	22	#1,214
2008	27	#1,047
2007	24	#1,102
2006	21	#1,131
2005	21	#1,098
2004	20	#1,071
2003	22	#953
2002	11	#1,384
2001	16	#1,054
2000	13	#1,165
1999	20	#870
1998	16	#980
1997	19	#864
1996	13	#1,083

How popular is Shiv in the US?

Rank in 2025: #1,753among boys
Babies in 2025: 92about 1 in 19,000 boys
Five-year trend: Risingup 33% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 boys

In 2025, 92 boys in the US were named Shiv, making it the 1,753rd most popular name for boys. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 1,962nd. Its busiest year was 2024, with 92 boys. It first appears in the records in 1984.

Half of all the boys named Shiv in the US since 1880 were born between 2003 and 2019, the years shaded on the chart below.

1984Busiest: 92 in 20242025

Shiv in the US, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2025	92	#1,753
2024	92	#1,776
2023	91	#1,774
2022	88	#1,826
2021	69	#2,095
2020	73	#1,962
2019	64	#2,187
2018	69	#2,064
2017	78	#1,871
2016	82	#1,828
2015	73	#1,983
2014	87	#1,730
2013	70	#1,963
2012	68	#2,035
2011	61	#2,144
2010	67	#2,036
2009	69	#2,009
2008	71	#1,980
2007	79	#1,830
2006	69	#1,942
2005	58	#2,110
2004	64	#1,907
2003	58	#1,983
2002	59	#1,884
2001	49	#2,113
2000	51	#1,989
1999	45	#2,095
1998	43	#2,123
1997	45	#1,988
1996	31	#2,478
1995	33	#2,341
1994	28	#2,613
1993	20	#3,240
1992	19	#3,331
1991	18	#3,319
1990	9	#5,375
1989	12	#4,265
1988	8	#5,194
1987	6	#6,083
1986	15	#3,128
1985	5	#6,517
1984	5	#6,311

Names like Shiv

Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.

Aarav Dhruv Shivansh Veer Krishiv Krish Yuvraj Harshiv Vihaan Pranav Ansh Atharv

Names related to Shiv

Shivay Shiva

More Sanskrit names

Maya Bodhi Arya Lila Arjun Rohan Kali Aryan Opal Arjan Aadhya Avyaan Ishaan Siya Leena Veda

Every Sanskrit name

Sources

Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Shiv: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/shiv, updated 20 October 2026.