Boy Names That Start With V
V names have a certain dash. The letter’s buzzing sound gives even simple names like Van or Vance an edge, and it runs through some of history’s grandest names: Victor, Vincent, Valentine, Vladimir. Many of them trace back to Latin words for strength, health and victory.
Below are more than 90 boy names that start with V, sorted into popular picks, Latin and Roman names, Italian and Spanish favorites, Slavic and Nordic names, Indian names and more, all with real meanings. Continue with our boy names that start with W or T, or find a sister name among our girl names that start with V.
Popular boy names starting with V
The V names most American parents choose today (SSA data), led by the enduring Vincent and Victor.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vincent | Conquering | Latin |
| Victor | Conqueror, victor | Latin |
| Vicente | Spanish form of Vincent | Spanish |
| Valentino | Strong, healthy | Italian |
| Valentin | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Vance | Marshland, fen | English |
| Vaughn | Small (from Welsh <em>bychan</em>) | Welsh |
| Van | From (Dutch surname prefix); also short for Donovan, Ivan | Dutch |
| Vihaan | Dawn, beginning of a new era | Sanskrit |
| Vivaan | Full of life; rays of the morning sun | Sanskrit |
| Vito | Life | Italian |
| Valor | Bravery | English |
| Vale | Valley | English |
| Viktor | Conqueror (Slavic and Germanic spelling) | Various |
Vintage and classic V names
Grandfather names due for a revival. More in our classic boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vernon | Place of alders | French |
| Virgil | Roman poet; possibly “staff bearer” | Latin |
| Verne | Alder tree | French |
| Vince | Short for Vincent | English |
| Vinny | Friendly form of Vincent | English |
| Val | Short for Valentine or Valerian | English |
| Valentine | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Vivian | Alive (a traditional male name in Britain) | Latin |
| Vic | Short for Victor | English |
| Vern | Short for Vernon | English |
| Vaughan | Variant spelling of Vaughn, “small” | Welsh |
Latin and Roman boy names that start with V
Names from ancient Rome and the Latin language. See our full list of Latin boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Valerius | To be strong | Latin |
| Vitus | Life; a Roman saint | Latin |
| Vespasian | Roman emperor; from <em>vespa</em>, “wasp” | Latin |
| Varro | Roman scholar; possibly “bow-legged” | Latin |
| Valens | Strong, powerful | Latin |
| Vitalis | Vital, full of life | Latin |
| Valerian | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Virgilius | Latin form of Virgil | Latin |
| Venantius | Hunter | Latin |
| Verus | True | Latin |
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese V names
Warm, melodic V names from southern Europe. More in Italian boy names and Spanish boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vittorio | Victor, conqueror | Italian |
| Virgilio | Italian and Spanish form of Virgil | Italian / Spanish |
| Valerio | To be strong | Italian |
| Vasco | Basque; name of explorer Vasco da Gama | Portuguese / Spanish |
| Ventura | Good fortune | Spanish |
| Vidal | Life | Spanish / Portuguese |
| Vinicio | Wine (possibly) | Italian |
| Venancio | Hunter | Spanish |
| Vitale | Life, vital | Italian |
| Victorino | Little victor | Spanish |
| Vinícius | Of wine (possibly) | Portuguese |
Slavic, Nordic and Greek V names
Strong names from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Greece. Explore Russian male names and Viking boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vladimir | Great ruler, rules with greatness | Slavic |
| Vladislav | Rules with glory | Slavic |
| Vadim | Uncertain; possibly “to accuse” or Persian “good” | Russian |
| Vasily | Royal, kingly (from Basil) | Russian |
| Václav | More glory | Czech |
| Vitali | Life, vital | Russian / Ukrainian |
| Vuk | Wolf | Serbian / Croatian |
| Vojtěch | Joy of the army | Czech |
| Vasilis | Royal, kingly | Greek |
| Vangelis | Good news (from Evangelos) | Greek |
| Viggo | War, battle | Scandinavian |
| Valter | Ruler of the army | Swedish / Finnish |
| Valdemar | Famous ruler | Danish |
| Vilhelm | Scandinavian form of William | Scandinavian |
| Ville | Finnish short form of William | Finnish |
| Veikko | Brother | Finnish |
| Väinö | From Väinämöinen, hero of the <em>Kalevala</em> | Finnish |
| Vilmos | Hungarian form of William | Hungarian |
Indian boy names that start with V
Sanskrit V names are hugely popular in Indian and Indian-American families. See more Indian boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vikram | Valor, stride | Sanskrit |
| Vijay | Victory | Sanskrit |
| Varun | Lord of the waters (Varuna) | Sanskrit |
| Vikas | Growth, development | Sanskrit |
| Ved | Knowledge; sacred scripture | Sanskrit |
| Vedant | End of the Vedas; ultimate knowledge | Sanskrit |
| Vinay | Humility, good manners | Sanskrit |
| Veer | Brave, warrior | Sanskrit |
| Vivek | Wisdom, discernment | Sanskrit |
| Vasu | Wealth, brightness | Sanskrit |
| Viraj | Resplendent, shining | Sanskrit |
| Vansh | Lineage, family | Sanskrit |
| Vinod | Joy, playfulness | Sanskrit |
V names from mythology
Gods and heroes whose names begin with V. More in Norse god names.
| Name | Who he was | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
| Vulcan | God of fire and metalworking | Roman |
| Vidar | Silent god of vengeance, son of Odin | Norse |
| Vali | Son of Odin, born to avenge Baldur | Norse |
| Ve | Brother of Odin who helped create the world | Norse |
| Vishnu | Preserver god of the Hindu trinity | Hindu |
| Vayu | God of the wind | Hindu |
| Varuna | God of the sky and oceans | Hindu |
| Väinämöinen | Wise old singer-hero of the <em>Kalevala</em> | Finnish |
| Vertumnus | God of seasons and garden growth | Roman |
Modern and unique V names
Rarer V names with a fresh, contemporary sound. See our unique boy names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Vander | Of, from (short form of Dutch names like Vanderbilt) | Dutch |
| Vail | Valley | English |
| Vireo | Small green songbird | Latin |
| Vesper | Evening star | Latin |
| Vega | Bright star in the constellation Lyra; “swooping eagle” | Arabic |
| Voss | Fox (German surname) | German |
| Vadik | Pet form of Vadim | Russian |
| Vinson | Son of Vincent | English |
| Vashon | Island in Washington state | French |
Tips for choosing a V name for your son
- Pick a nickname you like. Vincent gives Vince or Vinny, Valentine gives Val, Vladimir gives Vlad — or choose Vance or Vaughn, which stay as they are.
- Consider the meaning. Many V names come from Latin vincere, “to conquer,” or valere, “to be strong” — a lovely wish for a baby.
- Test the flow. V names often end in soft sounds (Vito, Vihaan); try them with the surname to check rhythm.
- Mind double V’s. A V first name with a V surname can sound tongue-twisty; fun for some, too much for others.
- Look to your heritage. V names are common in Indian, Slavic and Italian families — our Russian male names have more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular boy name that starts with V?
Vincent, Victor, Valentino and Vihaan are among the most-used V names for boys in the US in recent years (SSA data).
What V names mean strong?
Valentin, Valentino, Valerio, Valerius and Valens all come from the Latin valere, “to be strong.” Our strong boy names list has more.
What V names mean victory?
Victor, Vittorio and Victorino mean “conqueror” or “victor,” Vincent means “conquering,” and Vijay means “victory” in Sanskrit.
What are unique boy names that start with V?
Vireo, Vuk, Veikko, Vespasian, Vidar and Vasco are uncommon in the US but easy to say.
What does the name Vaughn mean?
Vaughn comes from the Welsh word bychan, meaning “small” or “little.” It was a surname before it became a first name.