Why Angelina Jolie Named Her Twins Knox and Vivienne

Us Magazine - July 14, 2008 4:03 PM PDT
Story photo: Why Angelina Jolie Named Her Twins Knox and VivienneUs Magazine
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt "have proven once again that they are the leaders in original baby-naming, even by Hollywood standards," baby name expert Pamela Redmond Satran, coauthor of Cool Names and The Baby Name Bible, tells Usmagazine.com.

The actress, 33, gave birth to twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline at the Fondation Lenval hospital in Nice, France on Saturday.

(See 15 photos of her bump.)

"Vivienne is the French version of the ancient Latin name that means 'alive,'" Satran explains. A common English variation is Vivian, which was the name of Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman.

Except for Rosie O'Donnell's daughter Vivienne, the name "has not been on the fashion scope in the U.S.," Satran adds.

Jolie and Pitt's choice of Knox will boost its popularity among new moms, Satran predicts, "the same way they have with all their other children's names."

(See photos of Angelina and her children.)

Knox -- Pitt's grandfather's middle name -- also "matches" big brothers Maddox and Pax as a name that ends in X, Satran points out.

As for middle names, Marcheline was the name of Jolie's mother, who died of cancer last year, while Leon is Jolie's great-great grandfather's name.

(See photos of Angelina through the years.)

Satran gives Jolie and Pitt credit for their name choices.

"I applaud Brad and Angelina for being truly creative in a way that many other parents -- celebrities and the rest of us -- claim they want to be but aren't brave or individualistic enough to really achieve," she says.

Tell Us: Do you like the names Knox & Vivienne?


More news from Usmagazine.com

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comments 1-10 of 3493  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • RantGirl
    Ha! I have just recently learned these children' names and I love, love, love the Vivienne name. I have a daughter Viveca and I too chose Viv for the meaning "alive". Really don't care for Knox cause' I am thinkin' tooooo rhyme - socks, rocks, blocks.
    report abuseposted August 28, 2009 3:48 AM PDT
  • RantGirl
    Ha! I have just recently learned these children' names and I love, love, love the Vivienne name. I have a daughter Viveca and I too chose Viv for the meaning "alive". Really don't care for Knox cause' I am thinkin' tooooo rhyme - socks, rocks, blocks.
    report abuseposted August 28, 2009 3:48 AM PDT
  • TarrynR
    ya they r alrite not sumtin i wud name my kids bt if they r pleasd wel gud 4 them!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted August 28, 2008 12:14 PM PDT
  • rubystone
    Girls names tend 2 b more thought of than boys & r generally prettier but it doesn't matter what others think of them.That's a part of that child. If they don't like it, they can always change it when they get older. It's not a big deal to change names now. The baby girl's names are pretty, I like them.The baby boy's names, r ok, I neither d
    report abuseposted July 26, 2008 4:46 AM PDT
  • rubystone
    The names are fine as they are, a name is also a part of the child's personality & that makes them unique. At least they didn't go over board w/ it, not like names like Apple, Coco, Lola, or Cinnamon-some sound like stripper's names. I'm pretty sure most of us r fairly happy w/ the names that our parents had chosen 4 us or at least grown 2 tolerate them as
    report abuseposted July 26, 2008 4:35 AM PDT
  • rubystone
    It's nice of them 2 name their babies after people who mean a lot to them, what an honor. Understanding the history of where their names come from & why their parents had chosen those names for their kids is something they will appreciate-any one can appreciate especially as they get older. Their names may not appeal to some but it's the parents' decision. Every
    report abuseposted July 26, 2008 4:30 AM PDT
  • Rati G
    it's nice, much more i like viviene but whot about knox_no comment
    report abuseposted July 23, 2008 6:18 AM PDT
  • ilinca g
    I like Vivienne, it's an okay name, but knox is a bit too bizar, in my opinion anyway... if they like it gd for them
    report abuseposted July 22, 2008 10:59 AM PDT
  • Jewels
    vivienne is a beautiful name. I had been considering it too! lmao but knox isnt as nice as maddox and pax.
    report abuseposted July 19, 2008 7:11 AM PDT
  • Patty
    Love..Love..Love Shiloh's name but...VERY CUTE LIKE HER;) Knox & Vivienne...Kind of nerdy like Julia's Phinneus & Hazel...WHAT NEXT!!!
    report abuseposted July 18, 2008 6:41 PM PDT
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