What does Liv mean?
Liv comes from the Old Norse for “life” or “protection.”
What does Thora mean?
Thora is a feminine form linked to the god Thor and to “thunder.”
Liv vs Thora
Which is more popular?
Liv is more popular than Thora today: about 296 US babies were given the name Liv in 2025, compared with 20 named Thora.
| Liv | Thora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Life | Thor's; thunder |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LEEV | THOR-ah |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1956 | 1883 |
| Peak year | 2017 (437) | 1916 (72) |
| In 2025 | 296 | 20 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Liv
Thora
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Liv | Thora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,267 | 215 |
| 2010s | 3,443 | 228 |
| 2000s | 890 | 83 |
| 1990s | 84 | 12 |
| 1980s | 73 | 5 |
| 1970s | 129 | 35 |
| 1960s | 5 | 42 |
| 1950s | 10 | 101 |
| 1940s | 0 | 138 |
| 1930s | 0 | 204 |
| 1920s | 0 | 434 |
| 1910s | 0 | 519 |
| 1900s | 0 | 201 |
| 1890s | 0 | 160 |
| 1880s | 0 | 47 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Liv or Thora more popular?
Liv is more popular than Thora today: about 296 US babies were given the name Liv in 2025, compared with 20 named Thora.
What is the difference between Liv and Thora?
Liv means Life (Norse origin), while Thora means Thor's; thunder (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Liv or Thora?
In US records, Liv first appears in 1956 and Thora in 1883, so Thora has the longer recorded history.