Vivienne or Vivian

[Umbrellasandladders]

Which spelling so you prefer?

[mrsmaturin]

Pretty names. I think Vivian is now the more unusual spelling. I think I prefer that.

[badtime]

I actually like Vivien best.

[springlamb]

I thought Vivian was the male version. Wasn't there a West Indian cricketer with the name, and I was at school with a male Vivian.

I suppose you could end it with 'anne' but then I prefer the softer 'enne' anyway. Sort of French sounding.

[florascotia]

Traditionlly, Vivian is a male name. Also spelled Vyvyan or Vivyan. Very occasionally used as a surname for both genders.

Vivien - as in actress Vivien Leigh -is the English female version; Vivienne the French version, widely used in the UK for girls since at least the 1950s,if not before.

[HalfPintPickle]

I like Vivienne either with one n or two.m

[AlpacaYourThings]

Vivienne by far.

[VanitasVanitatum]

Vivienne. I love it.

[SpearmintLino]

Vivian was male in The Young Ones

[aubreye]

Vivienne or Vivien

[itsmecathy]

definitely Vivienne

[senua]

The cricketer you are thinking of is Sir Viv Richards. There was also Vivian Stanchall, late of the Bonzo Dog.
Vivian is usually a male name.

[ginzillas]

Vivienne. So beautiful.

[HaroldLloyd]

Vivienne, love it loads.

[DramaAlpaca]

Vivienne or Vivien.

Not Vivian for a girl - as others have said, that's the male version of the name.

I think I prefer Vivienne, but it's a close call. It's a beautiful name.

[Ziggyzoom]

My mum is Vivien.

[TheCheeseAlarm]

Historically there are fairly equal numbers of famous women and men spelled both Vivian and Vivien, no male Viviennes though. Vivian Leigh was originally a Vivian. The character in the Young Ones was Vyvyan.

I think it is beautiful either way. It is DS2's middle name, after his grandfather, spelled Vivian. I know two little girls who spell it Vivian and one who spells it Vivienne.

[UnrelatedToElephants]

Vivienne

[Linguaphile]

I have a Vivienne, chosen because of the whole 'Vivian is male' thing. It is constantly mispronounced as 'Vivi-ENNE' and people often misspell it as well (often Vivien). If I could re-do it, I'd go with Vivien as you'd avoid the pronunciation/spelling issues. Bonus, it's more unusual and less fussy.

[Sophronia]

My favourite is Vivien, this is how my grandmother spells her name.

[Pebbles0934]

Vivienne looks more beautiful!

[ralinax294]

Vivienne is much nicer.

[summerberries]

I prefer Vivienne too. It looks more feminine.

[KatherinaMinola]

Neither - definitely Vivien (like Vivien Leigh). Vivian is the male version, and Vivienne is just not as classy.

[KitKatClare]

Vivienne is one of my favourite names! DH not keen on it though...

[miffybun73]

Vivien.

Vivian (man's name)

vivienne looks too frilly to me, but that's just personal preference. e.g. I love Isabel, but not keen on Isabelle at all.