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At a Glance: Name: Given – Origin: English (word name) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: GIV-uhn
Given is an English word name — it's literally the everyday word 'given' used as a first name. You might spot claims online that it means 'little black one' or simply 'to give,' but those two claims contradict each other and aren't backed by any dictionary or given-name source, so it's really just the plain word standing on its own. SSA records for the name run from 1925 to 2022.
Meaning & Origin of Given
Origin: English (word name).
A common claim: Some baby-name lists claim 'Given' means 'little black one' or simply 'to give.' Actually: These two claims conflict with each other and aren't backed by any dictionary or given-name source — 'Given' looks like a plain use of the English word 'given.'
How to Pronounce Given
Phonetic: GIV-uhn IPA: /ˈɡɪvən/
Popularity of Given
Given hit its high point back in 1925 at #4483, when 5 babies were given the name, and by 2022 it had drifted down to #11335 with just 6 babies given the name that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1925–2022.
Make Given Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Given, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Given mean?
Some baby-name lists claim ‘Given’ means ‘little black one’ or simply ‘to give.’ These two claims conflict with each other and aren’t backed by any dictionary or given-name source — ‘Given’ looks like a plain use of the English word ‘given.’
How do you pronounce Given?
Given is pronounced GIV-uhn (IPA: /ˈɡɪvən/).
Is Given a popular name right now?
Given peaked at #4483 in 1925 and is ranked #11335 as of 2022. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1925–2022.)
📊 How popular is Given? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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