UK boy's name
Shivan
Of Sanskrit origin, meaning "supreme Lord" or "destroyer".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shivan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shivan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 9 births.
This profile covers 117 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 116 living people in the UK are called Shivan. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shivan ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 9 boys were registered as Shivan.
- • About 116 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shivan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2020
9 births
Estimated living
116
2026
Meaning
What does Shivan mean?
The name Shivan traces its origins to the Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages spoken in ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shiva," which means "auspicious" or "lucky." The name Shiva is also associated with the Hindu deity of the same name, who is considered the Supreme Being in the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism.
In Hindu mythology, Shiva is one of the principal deities of the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Vishnu. He is often depicted as an ascetic yogi, with a third eye on his forehead and a crescent moon adorning his matted hair. The name Shivan can be considered a variation or diminutive form of the name Shiva, possibly used to denote a devotee or follower of the deity.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Shivan can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads, which date back several centuries BCE. It is believed that the name gained popularity among Hindu communities as a way to honor and pay respect to the revered deity, Shiva.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shivan. One such figure was Shivan Nair, an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Kerala, who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and advocated for the rights of the underprivileged communities in Kerala.
Another notable Shivan was Shivan Krishnaji Bhatnagar, an Indian chemist and scientific administrator who lived from 1891 to 1955. He is widely regarded as the founder of the scientific research institutions in India and was instrumental in establishing the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
In the field of music, Shivan Tharapathi was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer from Tamil Nadu, who lived from 1935 to 2008. He was a pioneer in the Bharatanatyam dance form and received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
Shivan Maini was an Indian entrepreneur and founder of the automotive company, Reva Electric Car Company, which later became Mahindra Electric. He was a pioneer in the field of electric vehicles and played a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation solutions.
Another notable figure was Shivan Shahnawaz, an Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. He played a significant role in representing Afghanistan on the international stage during a period of political turmoil in the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shivan over time
The chart below shows babies named Shivan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shivan, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shivan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shivan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3109 | 32 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3254 | 46 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3293 | 23 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2138 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Shivan
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Shivan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shivan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shivan was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shivan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 9 babies registered as Shivan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shivan?
Of Sanskrit origin, meaning "supreme Lord" or "destroyer".
How many people are called Shivan in the UK?
A total of 117 babies have been registered as Shivan across the 22 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.