Shiv
Boy name · #1763 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
Shiv is currently the #1763 boy name in the United States — 92 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1983, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,565 boys born in 2025 was named Shiv.
Babies named Shiv per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 41-year story
Shiv first appears in the Social Security records in 1984, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 92 babies and a rank of #1776. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shiv against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shiv in class?
Shiv scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Shiv is most common
Geography matters for names, and Shiv is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Shivs were CA (12), NJ (12), IL (8), GA (7), NY (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Shiv
Statistically, parents drawn to Shiv tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Aviv, Saif, Sai, Syrus, and Yakov.
AvivSaifSaiSyrusYakovSamiSimchaKeshav
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shiv | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92 | #1753 |
| 2024 | 92 | #1776 |
| 2023 | 91 | #1774 |
| 2022 | 88 | #1826 |
| 2021 | 69 | #2096 |
| 2020 | 73 | #1962 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2188 |
| 2018 | 69 | #2065 |
| 2017 | 78 | #1871 |
| 2016 | 82 | #1828 |
| 2015 | 73 | #1983 |
| 2014 | 87 | #1730 |
| 2013 | 70 | #1964 |
| 2012 | 68 | #2036 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2145 |
| 2010 | 67 | #2037 |
| 2009 | 69 | #2010 |
| 2008 | 71 | #1981 |
| 2007 | 79 | #1830 |
| 2006 | 69 | #1943 |
| 2005 | 58 | #2114 |
| 2004 | 64 | #1911 |
| 2003 | 58 | #1987 |
| 2002 | 59 | #1888 |
| 2001 | 49 | #2117 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Shiv a popular boy name?
Shiv ranked #1763 among boys in 2025 with 92 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1983.
When was the name Shiv most popular?
Shiv peaked in 2024, when 92 American boys received the name (ranked #1776 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Shiv?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,565 newborn American boys was named Shiv. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.