Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given names Olive and Olivia.
Liv is a girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the Old Norse hlif meaning "protection" or "shelter," though in modern Scandinavian usage it is often associated with liv meaning "life." It is one of the most beloved short names in Scandinavia.
Actress Liv Tyler — daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler — brought this name into global consciousness in the 1990s, and its crisp, three-letter elegance has made it a consistent favorite. In the United States, it works beautifully both as a standalone name and as a nickname for Olivia.