NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Niv

A Hebrew name meaning "eminence" or "high ground".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Niv is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Niv popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4333, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2007 to 2007. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Niv is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Niv. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2008 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Niv ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Niv.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niv as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4333

2007

Births in 2007

3

Latest year

Peak year

2007

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Niv mean?

The name Niv is a modern Hebrew name derived from the Hebrew word "Niv," which means "utterance" or "speech." It has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and is believed to have been in use since biblical times.

The earliest recorded use of the name Niv can be traced back to the Hebrew Bible, where it appears in the Book of Proverbs as a reference to wise and eloquent speech. In this context, the name was likely used as a metaphor for wisdom and understanding.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Niv was Rabbi Niv ben Yaakov, a prominent Jewish scholar and commentator who lived in the 12th century CE. He was renowned for his expertise in Hebrew grammar and his commentaries on the Talmud.

During the Middle Ages, the name Niv was relatively uncommon, but it gained popularity among Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East. One notable figure from this period was Rabbi Niv ben Shmuel, a 14th-century Spanish Jewish philosopher and theologian.

In the modern era, the name Niv has become more widely used, particularly in Israel and among Jewish communities around the world. One of the most famous individuals with this name is Niv Sheinfeld, an Israeli actress and model born in 1980.

Another notable Niv is Niv Asraf, an Israeli footballer who played for several clubs in Israel and Europe during the early 2000s.

In the literary world, Niv Engelmann is a contemporary Israeli author and poet, born in 1962, who has published several collections of poetry and prose.

The name Niv has also been used by public figures outside of the Jewish community. Niv Mheated was a prominent Thai artist and sculptor who lived from 1913 to 1976 and was known for his works depicting traditional Thai culture and Buddhism.

Niv Adiri is a British filmmaker and director of Yemeni descent, born in 1979, who has directed several award-winning short films and documentaries.

Overall, while the name Niv has ancient roots in Hebrew and Semitic languages, it has gained wider recognition and usage in modern times, particularly among Jewish communities and in certain cultural circles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Niv by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niv was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #4333 3 1

Related

Names similar to Niv

FAQ

Niv: questions and answers

How popular is the name Niv in the UK right now?

In 2007, Niv was ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Niv most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Niv in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Niv?

A Hebrew name meaning "eminence" or "high ground".

How many people are called Niv in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Niv across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.