This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Little saint
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic (variant of Nevin)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- NIV-en
Niven is a boy's name pronounced NIV-en (IPA /ˈnɪvən/), a Scottish Gaelic variant of Nevin that carries the meaning "little saint." It has a clean, modern, worldly feel, making it a good fit if you want something short, clean, and tied to a specific Gaelic root rather than a trend. If you're weighing Niven, its meaning and origin are well-documented, even if usage data for it isn't tracked yet.
Meaning & Origin of Niven
Meaning: Little saint.
Origin: Scottish Gaelic (variant of Nevin).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Niven
NIV-enIPA /ˈnɪvən/
Popularity of Niven
Niven does not appear in U.S. Social Security birth-name records (38,443 names on file, 1880–present) — likely too rare, too new, or recorded under a different spelling. No popularity rank or trend is shown rather than an invented one.
Names Like Niven
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Niven mean?
Little saint. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Niven?
Niven is pronounced NIV-en (IPA: /ˈnɪvən/).
Make Niven Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Niven, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Niven? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →

