Shiva
Borrowed from Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
Every Shiva since 1968 — 827 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shiva
Shiva is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,370 in 2025 with 24 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1968, 827 American babies have been named Shiva — about 66% boys and 34% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 30 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shiva stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shiva year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 24 | #4,370 |
| 2024 | 7 | #13,280 | 17 | #5,619 |
| 2023 | — | — | 23 | #4,594 |
| 2022 | 9 | #11,120 | 12 | #7,192 |
| 2021 | 6 | #15,009 | 24 | #4,346 |
| 2020 | 7 | #13,285 | 12 | #6,980 |
| 2019 | — | — | 13 | #6,723 |
| 2018 | 6 | #15,399 | 20 | #4,895 |
| 2017 | — | — | 13 | #6,614 |
| 2016 | — | — | 13 | #6,667 |
| 2015 | — | — | 7 | #10,455 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12,909 | 15 | #5,952 |
| 2013 | — | — | 15 | #5,875 |
| 2012 | — | — | 16 | #5,685 |
| 2011 | — | — | 8 | #9,466 |
| 2010 | 9 | #12,117 | 13 | #6,649 |
| 2009 | — | — | 11 | #7,614 |
| 2008 | 7 | #15,169 | 10 | #8,211 |
| 2007 | 9 | #12,529 | 17 | #5,401 |
| 2006 | — | — | 15 | #5,740 |
| 2005 | 6 | #16,151 | 19 | #4,606 |
| 2004 | 5 | #18,407 | 11 | #6,908 |
| 2003 | 5 | #18,016 | 17 | #4,781 |
| 2002 | 6 | #15,130 | 22 | #3,893 |
| 2001 | 7 | #13,281 | 20 | #4,095 |
| 2000 | 8 | #11,637 | 16 | #4,756 |
| 1995 | — | — | 12 | #5,076 |
| 1990 | 8 | #10,054 | 9 | #5,743 |
| 1985 | 8 | #8,208 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,138 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Shiva
- Shiva Rajkumar Actor · b. 1961
- Shiva Thapa Boxer · b. 1993
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shiva mean?
Borrowed from Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
How popular is the name Shiva in 2025?
Shiva ranked #4,370 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 24 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shiva?
827 babies have been named Shiva in the United States since 1968, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shiva most popular?
Shiva peaked in 2021, when 30 newborns received the name.
Is Shiva a boy or girl name?
Shiva is used for both: about 34% of babies named Shiva have been girls and 66% boys.
Is the name Shiva rising or falling?
Shiva is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Shiva?
Well-known people named Shiva include Shiva Rajkumar (actor), Shiva Thapa (boxer).