100 Visionary Boy Names That Start With V: With Meanings (2024)

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Go on the prowl for fun boy names that start with V for your vibrant baby boy.

Vachell

Vachell may mean “small cow” in French, but it less humorously refers to a “cowherd.” In Dutch, Vachell is linked to Wachtell, a boy’s name meaning “quail.”

Origin: French
Meaning: Small cow
Pronunciation: VAEY-chehl
Variations: Vachel
Popularity: Vachell is extremely rare worldwide, with just 12 known occurrences, mainly in England.

Rare, Funny

Vaclav

Vaclav means “wreath of glory” after more than one Bohemian king in history. It comes from the Slavic equivalent to Wenceslaus or Wenceslas and is a popular Czech nickname for the Slavic Venceslav.

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: More glory
Pronunciation: VAE-Klaav
Variations: Vyachaslav
Namesakes: Václav Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992. Václav Varaďa, a Czech ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres.
Popularity: Vaclav is rare worldwide and primarily used in Czechia, where it ranked 207th in 2014.

Strong, Masculine

Vader

Vader is the literal Dutch word for “father,” used since the Middle Ages as a sign of respect for elders. It’s most famous today for the Star Wars villain Darth Vader, meaning “dark father” in Dutch.

Origin: Dutch
Meaning: Father
Pronunciation: VEY-Der
Variations: Vadar
Popularity: Vader is very rare worldwide and mostly used in India.

Unique, Uncommon

Vadim

Vadim comes from the Slavic “volod,” meaning “to rule.” It’s also associated with “vaditi,” meaning to “argue,” “accuse,” or “blame.”

Origin: Russian
Meaning: Powerful ruler
Pronunciation: Vaa-DIYM
Variations: Vadym, Vadzim
Namesakes: Vadim Evseev, a Russian football manager for FC Fakel Voronezh. Vadim Tikunov, the Russian Minister of Internal Affairs between 1961 and 1966.
Popularity: Vadim is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Russia.

Strong, Rare

Vahe

Vahe doesn’t really occur outside of its native Armenia, where it means “best.” It also means “shield” and “victor,” for powerful little boys who can’t fail.

Origin: Armenian
Meaning: Victor
Pronunciation: VAA-hey
Variations: Vahey, Vahi, Vahie
Namesakes: Vahé Katcha, a French-Armenian author best known for the novel L’Hameçon. Vahe Tadevosyan, an Armenian footballer for the U-21 side.
Popularity: Vahe is rare worldwide and primarily used in Armenia, ranking 63rd in 2014.

Unusual, Rare

Vaibhav

Vaibhav has many meanings, from “fortunate” and “happy” to “intelligent.” Vaibhav is also one of the names of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Richness
Pronunciation: VAEYB-haev
Variations: Vabhav, Vaybhav
Namesakes: Vaibhav Mangle, an Indian actor known for the series Shejari Shejari Pakke Shejari. Vaibhav Naik, an Indian member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly since 2014.
Popularity: Vaibhav is rare worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 819th in Poland in 2014.

Rare, Formal

Vaile

Vaile is one of many vintage variations on the Old English Vail. It was first a surname for a “dweller in the valley.” Vaile means “valley” or “valley with a stream,” where your little guy might like to play.

Origin: English
Meaning: Valley
Pronunciation: VEYL
Variations: Vail, Vale, Valle, Vayl
Popularity: Vaile is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.

Unique, Uncommon

Vajezatha

Vajezatha is one of the most ancient and rare male names that start with V. It may have either Persian or Hebrew origins, but it occurs in the Bible for a son of Haman in the Book of Esther.

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Sprinkling the chamber
Pronunciation: Vah-HEE-zah-Thah
Variations: Vaizatha, Vayezatha, Vayzatha
Popularity: Vajezatha is extremely rare worldwide, with just one known occurrence in 2014 in the U.S.

Ancient, Formal

Val

Val is a diminutive for various male names like Valentine, Valen, or Valens. It dates back to the Latin Vantinus and means “strong” and “healthy.” Val also means “high hill” and can be a nickname for girls named Valerie.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Valiant
Pronunciation: VAEL
Variations: Valle
Namesakes: Val Kilmer, an American actor best known for Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991). Val Peterson, the 26th governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953.
Popularity: Val is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S., where it was uncommon in 2014.

Informal, Cute

Valentin

Valentin, like Valentine, means “vigorous,” “powerful,” and “healthy” when derived from the Latin “valens.” It represents a mostly Russian formation of Valentine, still known as Saint Valentin(e).

Origin: Russian, Latin
Meaning: Strong
Pronunciation: Vaa-liyn-TIYN
Variations: Valentine
Namesakes: Valentin Dzhavelkov, a Bulgarian pentathlete who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Valentin Teodosiu, a Romanian actor and the voice of the channel ProTV since 1995.
Popularity: Valentin ranked 1,334th worldwide, is primarily used in Russia, and ranked 27th in Bulgaria in 2014.

Common, Formal

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Valentino

Valentino is an Italian and Spanish variation of Valentine, meaning “strong” and “healthy.” It’s also a surname best known for silent film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino. You can always call your young leading man Vale or Tino for short.

Origin: Italian, Latin
Meaning: Brave
Pronunciation: Vaa-lehn-TIY-Now
Variations: Valentine, Valentin
Namesakes: Valentino Lanús, a Mexican actor appearing in the series María Isabel (1997). Valentino Bompiani, an Italian publisher with 17 Nobel Prize winners by 1992.
Popularity: Valentino is rare worldwide and mostly used in Italy, where it ranked 303rd in 2014.

Cool, Unique

Valerian

Valerian is a close cousin to the ancient Roman Valerianus, from Valerius. St. Valerianus was the Bishop of Auxerre and also the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor. The Valerian root is also a herb said to foster good sleep.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Strong
Pronunciation: Vah-LEHR-iy-Ahn
Variations: Valerien, Valeryan
Namesakes: Valerian Gârlă, a Romanian footballer for SpVgg Ingelheim. Valerian Zorin, a Soviet diplomat known for confronting Adlai Stevenson during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Popularity: Valerian is rare worldwide, mainly used in Tanzania, and ranked 223rd in Moldova in 2014.

Ancient, Unusual

Valfredo

Despite its Italian-sounding appearance, Valfredo ultimately derives from Alfred, meaning “elf counselor” in Old German. It’s also sometimes associated with the German Willifred, meaning “desire for peace (or friendship).”

Origin: Italian, German
Meaning: Peaceful king
Pronunciation: Vael-FREY-dow
Variations: Valfryd
Popularity: Valfredo is extremely rare worldwide, with 65 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Argentina.

Rare, Formal

Valmeeki

Valmeeki represents the most obscure spelling of Valmiki, the “saint who wrote Ramayan.” Ramayan is the first epic poem in Hindi that inspired this ornate example of boy names that start with V.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Name of a poet
Pronunciation: Vaal-MIY-kiy
Variations: Valmiki, Vaalmeeki
Popularity: Valmeeki is extremely rare worldwide, with 28 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in India.

Unique, Rare

Valmiki

Valmiki is another name for the Hindu god Vishnu and is one of the more spiritual V names for boys. It’s also the name of an Indian poet, the ancient author of the Sanskrit epic poem Ramayana.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Name of a poet
Pronunciation: Vaal-MIY-kiy
Popularity: Valmiki is rare worldwide and mostly used in India.

Rare, Ancient

Van

Van originated from the English surname Vance, meaning “marshland.” It also means “of” in Dutch when used in traditional surnames beginning with “Van.” Van is a diminutive of longer male names like Vance, Evan, or Ivan.

Origin: English, Dutch
Meaning: Marshland
Pronunciation: VAEN
Variations: Vann
Namesakes: Van Morrison, a Northern Irish singer best known for the 1967 song, Brown Eyed Girl. Van Patrick, an American sportscaster for the Detroit Tigers.
Popularity: Van ranked 773rd worldwide and is mainly used in Vietnam, ranking 25th in 2014.

Informal, Popular

Vance

Vance goes back to the Old English “fenn,” meaning “marshland.” In Scotland, Vance was used as a surname inspired by Norman settlers called the “de Vaux” clan.

Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: Marshland
Pronunciation: VAENS
Variations: Vans, Vanse
Namesakes: Vance Joy, an Australian musician known for the 2013 song Riptide. Vance Worley, an American baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Popularity: Vance is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 1,610th for boys in the U.S. in 2023.

Cool, Modern

Vander

Vander is a shorter version of Evander, meaning “good man.” It derives from the Greek Evandros and the root “andros,” meaning “manly.” In Roman mythology, Evander is the son of Hermes.

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Goodman
Pronunciation: VAEND-er
Variations: Vandar, Vandor
Namesakes: Vander Vieira, a Brazilian footballer for Ethnikos Achna. Vander Blue, an American basketball player for Al Sadd Doha.
Popularity: Vander is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Angola, where it ranked 1,486th in 2014.

Ancient, Masculine

Vandyke

Vandyke is a stylish example of boy names with V, also used as a surname. It means “of the dike” in Dutch and was used for someone who lived near the many dykes of the Netherlands. Vandyke is famously the surname of the Dutch painter Van Dijck.

Origin: Dutch
Meaning: Of the dyke
Pronunciation: Van-DAEYK
Variations: Van Dyke, Van Dijck, Van Dyck
Popularity: Vandyke is very rare worldwide, mainly used in Ghana, and ranked 946th in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2014.

Traditional, Rare

Vanek

Vanek was first a Czech surname, as a pet form of Václav or Veceslav. It’s composed of the Old Slavic “viece,” meaning “greater” and “slav,” meaning “glory”. Vanek is also a Russian form of John that means “God is gracious” in Hebrew.

Origin: Slavic, Hebrew
Meaning: Greater glory
Pronunciation: Vae-NEHK
Variations: Wanek
Popularity: Vanek is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 776th in Slovakia in 2014.

Unique, Strong

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Vangelis

Vangelis also means “good tidings” and “good messenger,” based on the Greek Evangelos. Its name day is Mar. 25, which represents the Christian annunciation. Vaneglis’ first meaning was “the bearer of good news.”

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Good news
Pronunciation: VAEN-gih-Liyz
Variations: Vaggelis
Namesakes: Vangelis, a Mexican wrestler with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Vangelis Kazan, a Greek actor awarded Best Actor at the 1975 Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Popularity: Vangelis is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Greece, ranking 346th in 2014.

Unique, Formal

Vaniah

Vaniah also means “weapons of the Lord,” which relates to the biblical figure named Vaniah in the Book of Ezra. It may be associated with the Arabic “yada,” meaning “to praise,” and is most often used for girls today.

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Nourishment
Pronunciation: Vaan-NIY-Ah
Variations: Vania
Popularity: Vaniah is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.

Ancient, Uncommon

Vanja

Vanya is a beloved diminutive for the Russian and Slavic Ivan. Ivan is the Slavic version of John, but Vanja is a mostly Serbo-Croatian spelling for the Russian Vanya. It’s best known for Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya.

Origin: Croatian, Slavic
Meaning: God is gracious
Pronunciation: VAEN-Yaa
Variations: Vanya, Vania
Namesakes: Vanja Drach, a Croatian actor at the National Theatre in Zagreb. Vanja Milinković-Savić, a Serbian footballer for Torino.
Popularity: Vanja is rare worldwide and primarily used in Croatia, where it ranked 220th in 2014.

Traditional, Common

Vanko

Unlike Vanya, Vanko is a great example of a guy name that starts with V, that’s less known. It derives from the Ukrainian “yôchânân,” which originates as a version of Ivan or John in Hebrew and Greek.

Origin: Ukrainian
Meaning: God’s gift
Pronunciation: VAENG-Kow
Popularity: Vanko is very rare worldwide, mostly used in Bulgaria, and ranked 1,386th in North Macedonia in 2014.

Uncommon, Masculine

Varden

Varden was once a French surname for a “green knoll,” or grassy area that appeared as Vardon. It’s an Armenian boy’s name linked to Saint Vardanan, a national hero and a martyr of the Armenian Church.

Origin: French
Meaning: From the green hill
Pronunciation: VAAR-Dehn
Variations: Vardan, Verdon
Popularity: Varden is very rare worldwide, mainly used in Georgia, and ranked 407th in Abkhazia in 2014.

Unique, Rare

Vasco

Vasco is one of the names for boys that start with V based on national origins. It indicates a Basque person and switches up the alphabet by pronouncing the “V” as “B.” Vasco is linked to the Spanish Velasco, also meaning “crow” in Basque. The first namesake was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.

Vasilios

Vasilios may be one of the original forms of Basil, meaning “kingly” in Greek. It likely transformed from Vasileios to Basileus to Basil, but why not give your baby boy one of the first versions?

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Royal
Pronunciation: Vae-SIH-liy-Ows
Variations: Vasileios, Vasileos, Vassilios, Vasilis
Namesakes: Vasilios Magginas, a member of the Greek Parliament from 1993 to 2007. Vasilios Koutsianikoulis, a Greek footballer for Trikala.
Popularity: Vasilios is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 576th in Greece in 2014.

Strong, Traditional

Vasily

Vasily is the Russian version of Basil that comes from the Greek “basileus, meaning “king.” It corresponds to Basil and ends up being used for any noble, “king-like” fellow.

Origin: Russian, Greek
Meaning: Royal
Pronunciation: VAA-sah-Liy
Variations: Vasili, Vasily, Vasilii, Vasiliy
Namesakes: Vasily Grossman, a Soviet war correspondent for the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. Vasily Podkolzin, a Russian ice hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks.
Popularity: Vasily is rare worldwide, primarily used in Russia, and ranked 107th in Belarus in 2014.

Traditional, Masculine

Vaughn

Vaughn appears more regularly as a surname but is an Anglo version of the Welsh “bychan.” It was a diminutive of “bach,” meaning “small” and “little.” In Scandinavian cultures, Vaughn also means “hope,” but is rarely seen that way.

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Little
Pronunciation: VAON
Variations: Vaughan, Vaune
Namesakes: Vaughn Duggins, an American basketball player for s.Oliver Würzburg. Vaughn Taylor, an American actor appearing in Psycho (1960).
Popularity: Vaugh is rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S., where it ranked 1,610th for boys in 2023.

Modern, Unique

Vedat

Vedat means “friendship” and “love” in Turkish, and occurs in cultures as diverse as Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. It’s linked to the Arabic “widad” and the Hebrew “medad,” both of which carry the same thoughtful meaning.

Origin: Turkish, Persian
Meaning: Friendship
Pronunciation: Veh-DAAT
Variations: Vedad
Namesakes: Vedat Ademi, an Albanian singer-songwriter who performed the song Më mashtruan sytë on the reality series Top Fest. Vedat Aksoy, a Turkish Paralympian archer who competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Popularity: Vedat is rare worldwide, mainly used in Turkey, and ranked 170th in Northern Cyprus in 2014.

Traditional, Ancient

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Veer

Veer means everything from “courageous” and “warrior” to “lightning” and “thunder” in Sanskrit. It’s also a part of the Dutch surname Van der Veer, meaning “peat bog.” In Arabic, Veer means “vehicle,” “road,” and “wind.”

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Brave
Pronunciation: VIHR
Variations: Vear, Veere
Popularity: Veer is rare worldwide and primarily used in India.

Strong, Uncommon

Vegas

Vegas is based on the plural form of the Spanish “vega,” meaning “meadow.” The gambling capital of Las Vegas means “the meadows” since the city is surrounded by wild grass on all sides.

Origin: English, American
Meaning: Meadows
Pronunciation: VEY-Gaas
Popularity: Vegas is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.

Modern, Cool

Veliko

Veliko comes from the Slavic “vȅsel,” meaning “cheerful” and “merry.” It also means “goodness of heart” and “sentimental”- all good things for your sweet baby boy. Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north-central Bulgaria, where Veliko is most popular.

Origin: Bulgarian, Slavic
Meaning: Sentimental
Pronunciation: VEHL-ih-Kow
Variations: Velyo
Popularity: Veliko is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Bulgaria, ranking 393rd in 2014.

Unique, Masculine

Vellore

Vellore is inspired by the “vel,” or the weapon used by the Hindu god Murugan. It’s made up of “vel,” meaning “city of spears,” which describes a place with Velan trees, similar to Margosa trees.

Origin: Hindi
Meaning: The place of Murugan
Pronunciation: Veh-LOWR
Variations: Vellor
Popularity: Vellore is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Saudi Arabia.

Unusual, Rare

Velnias

Velnias is one of the more foreign boy names that start with V based on myth. In Lithuanian folklore, Velnias is the god of the underworld known as “the phantom of the dead.” It’s based on the Lithuanian “vėles,” meaning “zombie.”

Origin: Lithuanian
Meaning: God of the underworld
Pronunciation: VEHL-niy-As
Variations: Velinas, Vels, Velns
Popularity: Velnias is extremely rare worldwide, with just one known occurrence in 2014 in Lithuania.

Ancient, Rare

Velvel

Velvel began by meaning “wolf” in Yiddish and is linked to the ancient tribe of Benjamin. The tribe was called a “wolf” in the biblical Book of Genesis, appearing as “volf.”

Origin: Hebrew, Yiddish
Meaning: Little wolf
Pronunciation: VEHL-vehl
Namesakes: Velvel Pasternak, a Jewish-American musicologist and founder of Tara Publications. William “Velvel” Kahan, a Canadian mathematician inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2005.
Popularity: Velvel is extremely rare worldwide, with 79 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the U.S.

Funny, Rare

Venceslav

Venceslav is a mostly Czech and Slavic variation of Wenceslas, meaning “more glory.” Saint Wenceslas was a 10th-century Bohemia duke and the Czech Republic’s patron saint.

Origin: Czech, Slavic
Meaning: More glory
Pronunciation: VAHN-sah-Slaav
Variations: Wenceslav
Namesakes: Većeslav Holjevac, a Croatian-Yugoslav soldier and political commissar of the partisan unit, the 4th Croatian Corps.
Popularity: Venceslav is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Slovenia, where it ranked 1,081st in 2014.

Formal, Traditional

Venezio

Venezio was a term initially denoting a “man from Venice.” It’s also the Italian word for Venice and, though rare, appears more as a surname.

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Venice
Pronunciation: Veh-NIY-ziy-Ow
Variations: Venetziano, Veneziano
Popularity: Venezio is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Brazil.

Rare, Unique

Venn

Venn was first an English surname for someone living “near a marsh or swamp.” It corresponds to the Old English “fenn,” which indicates “wetlands.”

Origin: English
Meaning: Fair
Pronunciation: VEHN
Namesakes: Venn Eyre, the English Archdeacon of Carlisle from 1756 to 1777. Venn Young, the New Zealand Minister for Social Development from 1981 to 1984.
Popularity: Venn is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the Philippines.

Rare, Ancient

Venya

Venya is one of the Russian nicknames for Benedict, meaning “blessed.” It’s also a nickname for Venyamin, the Russian form of Benjamin, and an Indian girl’s name meaning “lovable.”

Origin: Russian
Meaning: Blessed
Pronunciation: VEHN-Yaa
Variations: Vanya
Namesakes: Venya D’rkin, a Russian writer of fairy tales who performed with violinist Veronica Belyayeva in the 1990s.
Popularity: Venya is very rare worldwide, mainly used in Russia, and ranked 647th in Transnistria in 2014.

Unusual, Rare

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Vercingetorix

Vercingetorix may be the most formalized of male names that start with V, which first indicated a “king over warriors.” It’s composed of the Gaulish “wer,” meaning “on,” “kingeto,” meaning “marching men,” and “rix,” meaning “king.” Vercingetorix was the ancient Gaulish king of the Arverni tribe during the Gallic Wars in 58 BC.

Origin: Gaulish
Meaning: King of warriors
Pronunciation: Ver-Sin-JEH-toh-Riks
Popularity: Vercingetorix is extremely rare worldwide, with 26 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Brazil.

Ancient, Strong

Verge

On its face, Verge looks like a pet name for the Latin Virgil. It’s actually a nickname from the Old French “verge,” meaning “half-acre.” Verge became a name for someone who owned not a half-acre but four acres of land.

Origin: English, French
Meaning: Owns four acres of land
Pronunciation: VERJH
Variations: Varg
Popularity: Verge is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.

Unusual, Rare

Verissimo

Verissimo derives from the Latin surname Verissimus, meaning “very true.” It’s inspired by the 4th-century Saint Verissimus, a Portuguese martyr executed by the Roman emperor Diocletian. Verissimo is also a Brazilian municipality in the state of Minas Gerais and a river, also in Brazil.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Very true
Pronunciation: Veh-RIH-sih-Mow
Popularity: Verissimo is rare worldwide, mainly used in Brazil, and ranked 1,065th in Angola in 2014.

Formal, Unique

Verle

In Old French, “verle” means “green” or “alder grove,” for the trees that are famous for inviting fairies. Verle also means “brave man” and “valiant warrior” and is the name of an Indian village in Maharashtra.

Origin: French
Meaning: Green
Pronunciation: VEHRL
Variations: Verrill
Popularity: Verle is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.

Traditional, Masculine

Verlon

Though Verlon is said to mean “blooming” in Old English, it’s most associated with Verlyn, made up of the French “ver,” meaning “true,” and the German “linde,” meaning “gentle.”

Origin: French, German
Meaning: True, gentle
Pronunciation: VEHR-Lahn
Variations: Verlin
Namesakes: Verlon Thompson, an American folk musician whose songs have been covered by Randy Travis and Kenny Rogers.
Popularity: Verlon is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.

Unusual, Rare

Vermont

Like the name of the bucolic U.S. state, Vermont is composed of the French “vert,” meaning “green,” and “mont,” meaning “mountain.” The state of Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State.

Origin: French
Meaning: Green mountain
Pronunciation: Ver-MAANT
Variations: Vermonte
Popularity: Vermont is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.

Cute, Modern

Verne

Verne originally referred to “springtime” in Latin but came to mean “dweller among the ferns” as a French surname. In the U.S., Verne peaked at 557th during the 1930s and ranked in the top 1,000 boys’ names at 985th in 1957.

Origin: French
Meaning: Alder grove
Pronunciation: VERN
Variations: Vern, Vernn, Vernon
Namesakes: Verne Lundquist, an American sportscaster for CBS Sports. Verne Troyer, an American actor known for the Austin Powers film series.
Popularity: Verne is rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.

Traditional, Masculine

Vero

Vero is one of the few informal V names for boys on our list and means “great hero” in Latin. It’s based on the Latin “verus,” meaning “true,” and relates to the German-Italian boy’s name Bero, meaning bear.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: True
Pronunciation: VIY-Row
Namesakes: Vernon Richards (born Vero Recchioni), an Italian editor for Freedom Press in the 1940s.
Popularity: Vero is rare worldwide and mostly used in Madagascar, ranking 157th in 2014.

Strong, Unique

Veroslav

Veroslav uses the Czech root “věra,” meaning “faith,” and the Slavic “slava,” meaning “glory.” It’s much less common than other Slavic boys’ names ending in “slav,” like Miroslav and Vladislav.

Origin: Czech, Slavic
Meaning: Faith in glory
Pronunciation: VEH-row-Slaav
Popularity: Veroslav is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Serbia, where it ranked 1,453rd in 2014.

Formal, Rare

Verrier

Verrier derives from the Old French “verrie(u)r,” meaning “glassblower” or “glazier.” It was first an occupational “V” surname inspired by Farrier, meaning “blacksmith.”

Origin: French
Meaning: Glassblower
Pronunciation: VEH-riy-Ehr
Variations: Verier, Veriere, Verriere
Namesakes: Verrier Elwin, a British anthropologist and deputy director of the Anthropological Survey of India in 1945.
Popularity: Verrier is extremely rare worldwide, with just ten occurrences in 2014, primarily in India.

Unique, Rare

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Vesuvio

One of the most explosive boy names with V, Vesuvio takes its name from Mount Vesuvius. Vesuvius is an active volcano near Naples famous for its destructive eruption in 79 CE, destroying the ancient city of Pompeii.

Origin: Italian, Latin
Meaning: Near Vesuvius
Pronunciation: Veh-SUW-viy-Ow
Variations: Vesuvo
Popularity: Vesuvio is extremely rare worldwide, with just four known occurrences in 2014, in China, Italy, Mexico, and Papua New Guinea.

Ancient, Rare

Vetie

Vetie may be short, but it holds a lot of mystery among guy names that start with V. Its meaning is mostly unknown, while it may relate to the Latin “vitae,” meaning “having or pertaining to life.” Vetie is also listed as a girl’s name, whose meaning is equally as puzzling.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Unknown
Pronunciation: VEH-tiy
Popularity: Vetie is extremely rare worldwide, with 30 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the DR Congo.

Unusual, Cute

Veysel

Though Turkish, Veysel comes from the Arabic “uwais,” meaning “black-backed jackal” or “bilberry.” It turns out wolves (and wolf-cubs) sometimes eat bilberry. Uwais al-Qarani was the first Islamic mystic whose name appears in Turkish as Veysel Karani.

Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Wolf cub
Pronunciation: VAEY-Zehl
Namesakes: Veysel Aksu, a Turkish footballer for Tirespor. Veysel Eroğlu, the Turkish Minister of Forestry and Water from 2007 to 2018.
Popularity: Veysel is rare worldwide and mainly used in Turkey, ranking 214th in 2014.

Ancient, Strong

Viator

Viator is a world-renowned word meaning “voyager through life” and “traveler.” It was the name of a 4th-century Italian saint and originally meant “traveler by road.” In ancient Rome, a “viator” was a court official who summoned people to see the magistrate.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Voyager
Pronunciation: VAEY-ah-Taor
Popularity: Viator is very rare worldwide, primarily used in the DR Congo, and ranked 1,599th in Rwanda in 2014.

Cool, Unique

Victor

Viktor derives from the Latin “victor” and is a great pick among names for boys that start with V who love to win. It’s famously the name of one of the first popes and more than one Christian martyr in history.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Conqueror
Pronunciation: VIHK-Tahr
Variations: Viktor
Namesakes: Victor Borge, a Danish-American pianist known as “The Clown Prince of Denmark.” Victor Hugo, a French writer best known for Les Misérables (1862).
Popularity: Victor ranked 63rd worldwide, is mainly used in Mexico, and ranked 190th for boys in the U.S. in 2023.

Strong, Popular

Victory

Victory appears more as a girl’s name than a boy’s, yet it is a cool alternative to Victor or Victoria. It’s also an Anglo variation of the Irish surname Mac Anabadha, making a distinct middle name for boys.

Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Win
Pronunciation: VIHK-teh-Riy
Variations: Victoire, Victorie, Victorine, Viktorie
Popularity: Victory is rare worldwide, primarily used in Nigeria, and ranked 399th in Namibia in 2014.

Strong, Uncommon

Vidal

Vidal is an exotic-sounding nickname for the Latin Vitalis, meaning “life” and “vitality.” It’s used by many countries worldwide, including France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Origin: Latin, Spanish
Meaning: Vitality
Pronunciation: Viy-DAEL
Variations: Vital
Namesakes: Vidal Sassoon, a British hairstylist best known for the bob cut. Vidal Cantu, a Mexican film producer and co-founder of the Kenio Films production company.
Popularity: Vidal is rare worldwide, mostly used in Mexico, and ranked 233rd in Sierra Leone in 2014.

Unique, Common

Viggo

Viggo comes from the Old Norse “vig,” meaning “battle,” related to the Danish Vigge, from “vig,” meaning “war.” It’s also a pet form of the Icelandic Vöggur, based on the Old Norse “vöggr,” meaning “one who lies in a cradle.”

Origin: Danish, Scandinavian
Meaning: Battle, fight
Pronunciation: Viy-Gow
Variations: Wiggo
Namesakes: Viggo Mortensen, an American actor known for The Lord of the Rings films. Viggo Venn, a Norwegian comedian who won the 16th season of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023.
Popularity: Viggo is rare worldwide and mainly used in Denmark, where it ranked 399th in 2014.

Strong, Informal

Vihan

In Sanskrit, Vihan means “dawn” or “sunrise” and isn’t used much outside India. It specifically refers to the “first ray of sun,” a lovely way to think of your little boy.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Dawn
Pronunciation: VIY-Haen
Variations: Vihaan
Namesakes: Vihan Verma, an Indian actor appearing in the series Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin (2020).
Popularity: Vihan is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.

Unique, Rare

Vijay

Vijay is the Indian equivalent of Vitor, meaning “conquering” or “victorious.” It’s considered a Hindu name that’s closely related to Vijaya.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Victorious
Pronunciation: VIY-Jhey
Variations: Veejay, Veejaye, Vijai, Vijaye
Namesakes: Vijay Prashad, an American journalist, and editor of LeftWord Books.
Popularity: Vijay ranked 200th worldwide and is mainly used in India, ranking 17th in 2014.

Traditional, Popular

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Vijun

Very little is known about Vijun other than it’s a much more obscure variation of Vijay. Like Vijay, it means “conquering” and is a unique way for your little one to be victorious.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Conquering
Pronunciation: VIY-Jhahn
Variations: Vijay
Popularity: Vijun is extremely rare worldwide, with 78 known occurrences, mainly in India.

Strong, Rare

Vik

Vik is an alternate spelling for Vic, both nicknames for Victor. It means “conqueror” and “winner” from the Latin “victoria,” meaning “victory.” Vik is common in the Netherlands, where it ranked 1,068th in 2022.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Conqueror
Variations: Vic
Namesakes: Vik Adhopia, a Canadian health reporter for CBC News. Vik Sharma, an English film and television composer known for Fighting with My Family.
Popularity: Vik is very rare worldwide, mostly used in Russia, and ranked 673rd in Belarus in 2014.

Masculine, Informal

Vilfredo

Vilfredo is the Spanish variant of Vilfred, based on the Old English Wilfred. They all mean “desiring peace” and represent a vintage, old-world name boys will love.

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Desiring peace
Pronunciation: Viyl-FREY-dow
Variations: Willfredo, Vilfrido
Namesakes: Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist who introduced Pareto efficiency to microeconomics. Vilfredo Schurmann, a Brazilian economist and a goodwill ambassador for the environmental organization Trata Brazil.
Popularity: Vilfredo is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Brazil.

Formal, Unique

Vilhelm

Vilhelm is the Scandinavian version of William, still meaning “will-helmet. Like Wilhelm, it’s made up of the Old German “willio,” meaning “desire,” and “helm,” meaning “protection.”

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Resolute protector
Pronunciation: VIHL-Hhehlm
Variations: Villiam, Wilhelm
Namesakes: Vilhelm Buhl, the Prime Minister of Denmark from May to November 1942. Vilhelm Topsøe, a Danish novelist known for Jason med det gyldne Skind (Jason and the Golden Fleece) (1875).
Popularity: Vilhelm is very rare worldwide, primarily used in Sweden, and ranked 240th in Greenland in 2014.

Masculine, Common

Villard

Villard is sometimes an alternative for Willard, but it began as a French surname for someone living near a hamlet. It comes from the French “villar” and appears in many places called Le Villard in France. Villard is also a Haitian surname, which is why it’s common there.

Origin: French
Meaning: Battle fortress
Pronunciation: WIHL-Ahrd
Variations: Willard
Popularity: Villard is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Haiti, where it ranked 1,197th in 2014.

Strong, Unusual

Vilmos

Vilmos is a traditional Hungarian variation of the Germanic Wilhelm, still used regularly in Hungary today. It originated with the Latin Vilhelmus and is an example of boy names that start with V that stand out.

Origin: Hungarian
Meaning: With a gilded helmet
Pronunciation: VIYL-Mahszh
Variations: Vilhelmas
Namesakes: Vilmos Vanczák, a Hungarian footballer for the Hungarian national team. Vilmos Szabó, a Hungarian member of the National Assembly between 1998 and 2014.
Popularity: Vilmos is rare worldwide and primarily used in Hungary, ranking 144th in 2014.

Traditional, Strong

Vincent

Vincent originally appeared as the Roman Vincentius, taken from the Latin “vincere,” meaning “to conquer.” It’s the most popular among victory-based male names that start with V and has been a powerful symbol since ancient times.

Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Conquering
Pronunciation: VIHN-Sahnt
Variations: Vicente, Vinicent, Vinsent, Vyncent
Namesakes: Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter known for landscapes. Vincent D’Onofrio, an American actor known for Full Metal Jacket (1987).
Popularity: Vincent ranked 472nd worldwide, is mostly used in France, and ranked 52nd for boys in the U.S. in 2023.

Popular, Masculine

Vincenzo

Vincenzo is an age-old Italian variant for Vincent based on the Latin “vincere,” meaning “to conquer.” It grew out of the Roman Vincentius and ranked 32nd in Italy as recently as 2021.

Origin: Italian, Latin
Meaning: Victorious
Pronunciation: Vihn-CHEHN-zow
Variations: Vicenzo
Namesakes: Vincenzo Natali, an American-Canadian film director known for Cube (1997). Vincenzo Capelli, an Italian rower and gold medalist at the 2011 World Championships.
Popularity: Vincenzo ranked 1,532nd worldwide and is mainly used in Italy, where it ranked 13th in 2014.

Strong, Common

Vineet

Vineet means both “merchant” and “trader” but also points to someone “educated.” In Hinduism, Vineet is a name that represents “knowledge” for little boys who yearn for education.

Origin: Indian, Hindi
Meaning: Merchant
Pronunciation: Viy-NIYT
Variations: Vineeth
Namesakes: Vineet Kumar, an Indian actor known for the film Vikramarkudu. Vineet Jain, an Indian cricketer for Haryana.
Popularity: Vineet is rare worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 1,122nd in Fiji in 2014.

Unique, Rare

Vinko

Vinko is a specifically Croatian and Slovenian version of Vincent that dates back to the ancient Roman Vincentius. It can mean “winning over evil” and is the most common in Croatia today.

Origin: Croatian
Meaning: Conquering
Pronunciation: VIHNG-Kow
Namesakes: Vinko Puljić, the Bosnian archbishop of Vrhbosna from 1991 to 2022. Vinko Brešan, a Croatian film director awarded the 1995 Oktavijan Prize for Zajednički ručak (“Lunch Together”).
Popularity: Vinko is rare worldwide and primarily used in Croatia, ranking 92nd in 2014.

Strong, Masculine

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Vinton

Vinton means “vine settlement” in Old English, but can also indicate “Vincent’s settlement.” It’s mostly a surname today but is the name of many towns in the U.S., from Texas to Kansas.

Origin: English
Meaning: Vine settlement
Pronunciation: VIHN-Tahn
Variations: Vint
Namesakes: Vinton Cerf, an American Internet pioneer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005).
Popularity: Vinton is rare worldwide, mainly used in the U.S., and ranked 999th in Jamaica in 2014.

Formal, Unique

Virgil

Virgil is one of the most prominent V names for boys that likely began as the Latin Vergilius. It’s also associated with “virga,” meaning “green bough,” and “vernun,” meaning “spring.” Virgil is best known as the most legendary Roman poet who lived under Emperor Augustus.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Flourishing
Pronunciation: VEHR-Jhahl
Variations: Vergil
Namesakes: Virgil Donati, an Australian drummer and a founding member of the band Planet X. Virgil Finlay, an American science fiction illustrator inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2012.
Popularity: Virgil is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 218th in Romania in 2014.

Ancient, Traditional

Virgo

Virgo is a fanciful Latin male name that’s also one of the astrological signs. Its symbol and meaning are “the virgin” and “the maiden.” This is because Virgo was first named after the Virgin Mary and also means “chaste person.”

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Pure one
Pronunciation: VEHR-Gow
Popularity: Virgo is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 622nd in Estonia in 2014.

Cool, Unusual

Viridian

Viridian is best known as a uniquely blue shade of green on the color wheel. It’s linked to the French “vert,” meaning “green,” or Latin “veritas,” meaning “truth.” Viridian isn’t nearly as popular as the girl’s equivalent, Viridiana.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Green
Pronunciation: Veh-RIY-diy-Aen
Variations: Verdon
Popularity: Viridian is extremely rare worldwide, with 45 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in the U.S.

Formal, Rare

Vischer

Vischer may be a German boy’s name, but it has maintained dominance as a Dutch and German occupational name for a “fisherman.” It’s based on the Middle Dutch “visscher” and is also the German variation of the surname Fisher.

Origin: German, Dutch
Meaning: Fisherman
Pronunciation: VIH-sher
Variations: Visscher, Vyscher, Vysscher
Popularity: Vischer is extremely rare worldwide, with just eight known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Peru.

Unique, Rare

Vishnu

Vishnu comes from the Sanskrit Vishnu and is composed of “vish,” meaning “all-pervader” or “worker.” It’s most famous as the supreme God Vishnu, the protector of the universe in Hinduism.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Protector
Pronunciation: VIYSH-Nuw
Variations: Vish
Popularity: Vishnu is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 104th in Qatar in 2014.

Common, Strong

Vishva

Vishwa is an even more obscure version of the Indian Vishnu. In addition to meaning the whole “world,” it also means “shells.” In traditional Hindu mythology and writing, the root “vish” means “all-encompassing.”

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: The world
Pronunciation: VIHSH-Vaa
Variations: Vishwa
Namesakes: Vishva Malla, the Malla Dynasty King of Bhaktapur, Nepal, from 1547 to 1560. Vishva Wijeratne, a Sri Lankan cricketer for Sinhalese Sports Club.
Popularity: Vishwa is rare worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 1,098th in Sri Lanka in 2014.

Unusual, Ancient

Vito

Vito is the most Italian nickname for the relatively obscure Vitalis. It’s also linked to the Latin “vitus,” meaning “life” or “alive.” St. Vitus is known as the patron saint of dogs in Italy, but it’s doubtful he was called Vito.

Origin: Italian, Latin
Meaning: Life
Pronunciation: VIY-Tow
Variations: Veto
Namesakes: Vito Postiglione, an Italian racing driver who won the Italian Renault Mégane Winter Trophy in 1998. Vito Dimitrijević, a Serbian footballer for the New York Cosmos.
Popularity: Vito is rare worldwide and primarily used in Italy, where it ranked 89th in 2014.

Masculine, Informal

Vittorio

Vittorio is a very buttoned-up Italian equivalent for Victor, meaning “conqueror.” If you go with the original style of Vittorio, you can still call your baby boy Vito anytime.

Origin: Italian, Latin
Meaning: Victor
Pronunciation: Viy-TOW-riy-Yow
Variations: Vito
Namesakes: Vittorio Adorni, an Italian road racing cyclist who won the Trofeo de Gasperiin in 1960. Vittorio Storaro, an Italian cinematographer known for Apocalypse Now (1979).
Popularity: Vittorio is rare worldwide and mostly used in Italy, where it ranked 70th in 2014.

Traditional, Formal

Vitus

Though Latin, Vitus is typically utilized in Russia and Lithuania. It’s one of many “life” based boy names with V and is inspired by St. Vitus. He was the 4th-century patron saint of nervous disorders martyred by the emperor Diocletian.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Life-giving
Pronunciation: VIY-Tuwz
Variations: Vidus
Namesakes: Vitus Huonder, a Swiss prelate of the Catholic Church who was bishop of Chur from 2007 to 2019. Vitus Husek, a German canoeist and gold medalist at the 1995 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
Popularity: Vitus is rare worldwide, mainly used in Tanzania, and ranked 773rd in Namibia in 2014.

Ancient, Uncommon

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Vivek

Vivek means “judicious” and “conscience” in Sanskrit and is a nickname for the much longer Vivekananda. It uses the Sanskrit root “viveka,” known as a quality of a proper yogi. Vivek appears most in South Asian countries like India and Nepal.

Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
Meaning: Wise
Pronunciation: VIY-Vihk
Variations: Viveck, Vyveck, Vyvek
Namesakes: Vivek Murthy, the 21st U.S. surgeon general since 2021. Vivek Dahiya, an Indian actor appearing in the series Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.
Popularity: Vivek is uncommon worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 158th in Bahrain in 2014.

Unique, Common

Vivian

Like guy names that start with V, meaning “life,” Vivian also means “lively.” It dates back to the Roman Vivianus (and Viviana for girls). Vivian ranked 205th in 2023 for U.S. girls, but it’s not as much of a go-to for boys.

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Life
Pronunciation: VIHV-iy-Ahn
Variations: Vivien, Vyvian
Namesakes: Vivian Harris, a Guyanese boxer and the WBA super lightweight champion from 2002 to 2005. Vivian Campbell, a Northern Irish guitarist and a member of Def Leppard since 1992.
Popularity: Vivian ranked 1,153rd worldwide and is mostly used in the U.S., where it’s slightly uncommon for boys in 2023.

Modern, Common

Vjeran

Vjeran originally derives from the Latin “vērĭtās,” meaning “truth.” It’s better known as a Slavic boy’s name based on “véra,” meaning “faith” and “belief.”

Origin: Croatian, Latin
Meaning: Faith
Pronunciation: VJHIH-Ran
Variations: Veran
Namesakes: Vjeran Simunić, a Croatian football manager for NK Vodice.
Popularity: Vjeran is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Croatia, ranking 627th in 2014.

Masculine, Uncommon

Vladan

Vladan is a unique reworking of Vladimir, a touch different from Vlad, meaning “to rule.” It’s used often in Serbia and is also a nickname for Vladislav and any names beginning with “Vlad-.”

Origin: Serbian, Slavic
Meaning: Ruler
Pronunciation: VLAA-Dahn
Variations: Vlad
Namesakes: Vladan Matić, a Serbian handball player for Grundfos Tatabánya KC. Vladan Desnica, a Yugoslav writer known for the science fiction novel Proljeća Ivana Galeba (The Springs of Ivan Galeb), published in 1957.
Popularity: Vladan is rare worldwide and primarily used in Serbia, where it ranked 94th in 2014.

Strong, Traditional

Vladimir

Vladimir is the most recognizable of the many Slavic names for boys that start with V. It also means “to rule with greatness” and “ruler of the world.” It originated with the Slavic Volodiměrŭ and is still going strong today.

Origin: Russian, Slavic
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Pronunciation: VLAED-ah-Miyr
Variations: Vladamir, Vladimír, Vladimiro
Namesakes: Vladimir Kokovtsov, the fourth prime minister of Russia from 1911 to 1914. Vladimir Vasyutin, a Soviet cosmonaut and commander for the Salyut 7 space station.
Popularity: Vladimir ranked 95th worldwide, is mostly used in Russia, and ranked 5th in Kazakhstan in 2014.

Popular, Masculine

Vlaine

Vlaine is a name seemingly forgotten by time with unknown origins. Some think it might be a variation of the Scottish Blaine, meaning “son of the disciple of Blaan.” Wherever Vlaine came from, it doesn’t sound like anything else.

Origin: Unknown
Meaning: Unknown
Pronunciation: VLAEYN
Popularity: Vlaine is extremely rare worldwide, with just 12 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in the Philippines.

Unusual, Rare

Vlastimir

Vlastimir is a somewhat offbeat version of the Russian classic Vladimir. It was first the name of a medieval Serbian prince made up of “vlastiti,” meaning “to rule,” and “mir,” meaning “peace.”

Origin: Serbian, Slavic
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Pronunciation: VLAES-tih-Mihr
Variations: Vladimir
Namesakes: Vlastimir Vukadinović, a Serbian basketball coach for CS Concordia Chiajna. Vlastimir Peričić, a Serbian composer and a member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Popularity: Vlastimir is rare worldwide and primarily used in Serbia, ranking 161st in 2014.

Formal, Rare

Void

Void is based on the Middle English “voide” and the Old French “vuide,” meaning “empty space.” It originated with the Latin “vacuus,” meaning “empty,” and is the most badass name for boys you could want.

Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Empty
Pronunciation: VOIYD
Popularity: Void is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.

Rare, Modern

Vojin

Vojin specifically means “one who belongs to the battle” and may be related to the many Slavic Vlad names based on Vladimir. Vojin also means “protector” and “peace-maker.”

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Soldier
Pronunciation: VOW-Jhihn
Namesakes: Vojin Ćetković, a Serbian actor known for the series Porodično blago. Vojin Lazarević, a Yugoslav footballer for Red Star Belgrade.
Popularity: Vojin is rare worldwide, mainly used in Serbia, and ranked 155th in Montenegro in 2014.

Strong, Unique

Vojtek

Vojtek is another variation of the Polish Wojtek, meaning “a warrior to whom combat brings joy.” It’s also a pet name for the Slavic Vojtěch, meaning “consoling the host.” It denotes “he who enjoys war” or “joyous warrior” for soldier boys.

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Consoling the host
Pronunciation: VOIY-Tehk
Variations: Voytek, Vojtěch, Vojtech, Woitke
Popularity: Vojtek is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Poland.

Strong, Masculine

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Volkan

Volkan is the literal Turkish word for “volcano.” It’s based on the Latin Vulcanus, the god of fire in Roman mythology. Volkan’s more typical spelling Vulcan also means “god of fire” in Italian.

Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Volcano
Pronunciation: VOWL-Kahn
Variations: Vulcan, Vulkan, Vulckan
Namesakes: Volkan Canalioğlu, the Turkish mayor of Trabzon from 2004 to 2009. Volkan Gucer, a Turkish music composer known for the song “Gözlerinde Son Gece.”
Popularity: Volkan is rare worldwide and mostly used in Turkey, where it ranked 243rd in 2014.

Unusual, Uncommon

Voltaire

Voltaire may mean “determined thing,” but is best known as the created surname of the 18th-century writer. It’s thought he took the name based on the nickname “volontaire,” meaning “volunteer.”

Origin: French
Meaning: Determined thing
Pronunciation: Vohl-TEHR
Variations: Valter
Namesakes: Voltaire Molesworth, a member of the United Australia Party from 1912 to 1934. Voltaire Gazmin, the 35th Secretary of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.
Popularity: Voltaire is rare worldwide, mainly used in the Philippines, and ranked 1,485th in Haiti in 2014.

Cool, Unusual

Von

Von is an obscure Scandinavian name meaning “hope” but is more recognizable as the surname prefix “von.” It means “from (the family of)” and is more popular in Southeast Asia since Von is similar to the Cambodian Vong.

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Hope
Pronunciation: VAON
Variations: Vahn
Namesakes: Von Miller, an American football player for the Buffalo Bills. Von Freeman, an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist who performed with Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
Popularity: Von is rare worldwide and primarily used in Cambodia, ranking 64th in 2014.

Unique, Uncommon

Vong

Vong is a Cambodian Khmer name meaning “family lineage.” It also means “royal” and is a Danish surname related to Vång.

Origin: Cambodian
Meaning: Family lineage
Pronunciation: YAONG
Variations: Yonge
Namesakes: Vong Lu Veng, a Hong Kong table tennis player who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Popularity: Vong is rare worldwide and mostly used in Laos, where it ranked 29th in 2014.

Traditional, Unique

Vophsi

In its original form, Vophsi is made up of the Hebrew “yasap,” meaning “to add” or “increase,” and “yah,” meaning “the Lord.” In the Bible, Vophsi means both “fragrant” and “diminution” as the name of the father of Naphtali in the Book of Numbers.

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Fragrant
Pronunciation: VOWF-see
Popularity: Volphsi is extremely rare worldwide, with just six known occurrences in 2014, mainly in the Philippines.

Rare, Ancient

Voss

Voss is the Old German word for “fox,” which is also a Dutch surname. Voss is better known as a surname than a boy’s name, but it could even make your little fox fella a cool middle name.

Origin: German, Dutch
Meaning: Fox
Pronunciation: VOHS
Variations: Vos
Popularity: Voss is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the Philippines.

Cute, Uncommon

Vova

Vova is a super cute diminutive for Vladimir for boys who don’t wish to be called Vlad. It also means “universal ruler” and “ruler of the world” and provides an adorable nickname for the strong and manly Vladimir.

Origin: Russian, Slavic
Meaning: Famous rule
Pronunciation: VOW-Vah
Variations: Vovan
Popularity: Vova is very rare worldwide, mostly used in Poland, and ranked 608th in Armenia in 2014.

Strong, Informal

Vue

Vue is inspired by the Southeast Asian Vue clan of the Hmong people in China and Vietnam. It relates to the Chinese surname Wu and sometimes appears as Vu for boys.

Origin: Vietnamese, Chinese
Meaning: Unknown
Pronunciation: VUW
Popularity: Vue is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.

Traditional, Rare

Vuk

Vuk means “wolf” in Serbian, which is why it’s much used there. Vuk also occurs in some former Yugoslavia areas, like Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Origin: Serbian, Slavic
Meaning: Wolf
Pronunciation: VYK
Variations: Vukasin
Namesakes: Vuk Jeremic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia from 2007 to 2012. Vuk Drašković, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999.
Popularity: Vuk is very rare worldwide, primarily used in Serbia, and ranked 262nd in Montenegro in 2014.

Strong, Funny

Vung

Vung is common in places with pockets of Chinese people, such as Malaysia. It was originally a Chinese surname meaning “elderly man,” “father,” or “neck feathers of a bird.” Vũng Tàu is the biggest city in the Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province in Vietnam.

Origin: Vietnamese, Chinese
Meaning: Father
Pronunciation: VUWNG
Popularity: Vung is rare worldwide and mostly used in Vietnam, ranking 465th in 2014.

Ancient, Rare

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