Neven as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Neven

What is the meaning of the name Neven ?

The baby name Neven is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈnɛvɛn/ (NEV-en).

Neven is Slavic in Origin.

Neven is a South Slavic male given name found in Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Slovene, and Bulgarian. It matches the common noun neven, the marigold (Calendula officinalis), valued in folk medicine. Etymology traces to Slavic venuti ‘to wither, fade’ with the negative prefix ne-, yielding ‘unfading, not withering’ - a nod to the flower’s long-lasting color.

Attested in South Slavic records since the 19th century and more widely adopted in the 20th‑century wave of nature-inspired names, Neven remains familiar in the Balkans and among diaspora communities. Notable bearers include athletes and scholars, helping sustain modern visibility. Feminine counterparts are Nevena and Nevenka; the affectionate masculine Nevenko also appears. Related surnames or Anglicizations such as Nevin or Niven come from Celtic roots meaning ‘little saint’ and are etymologically unrelated, though sometimes conflated in international contexts.