This list includes 36 American boy names that start with V, from “Vachel” to “Vladimir (alternate spelling Vlad)”. They span traditional, literary, and recently adopted names common in the United States.
American boy names that start with V are masculine given names used in the United States beginning with the letter V. Notable examples include poet Vachel Lindsay and the widely recognized name “Vladimir.”
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin/Meaning, and Notes.
Name: The given name as used in the United States, so you can quickly scan possible choices.
Pronunciation: A concise phonetic guide helps you say each name aloud and test how it sounds.
Origin/Meaning: Brief origin and meaning notes give cultural context and help you assess personal fit.
Notes: Usage hints, famous bearers, and alternate spellings help you compare popularity and cultural resonance.
American boy names that start with V
| Name | Pronunciation | Gender/Usage | Origin/Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | VIK-tor | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin; “conqueror” — Behind the Name |
| Vincent | VIN-sent | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin; “conquering” — Behind the Name |
| Vance | VANS | Male; SSA 2022 | English; “marshland dweller” — Behind the Name |
| Vaughn | VAWN | Male; SSA 2022 | Welsh; “small” — Behind the Name |
| Vernon | VER-nun | Male; SSA 2022 | Old French; “alder grove” — Behind the Name |
| Virgil | VUR-jil | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin; possibly “staff-bearer” — Behind the Name |
| Vito | VEE-toh | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin/Italian; “life” (from Vitus) — Behind the Name |
| Vladimir | VLAH-dee-meer | Male; SSA 2022 | Slavic; “ruler of peace” — Behind the Name |
| Valentino | val-en-TEE-noh | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin/Italian; “strong, healthy” — Behind the Name |
| Valentine | VAL-en-teen | Male; SSA 2022 | Latin; “strong, healthy” — Behind the Name |
| Valen | VA-len | Male; Nameberry | Latin; short form of Valentine — Nameberry |
| Valentin | VAL-en-teen | Male; BabyCenter | Latin; variant of Valentine — Behind the Name |
| Valor | VAY-lor | Male; BabyCenter | English; “courage” — Nameberry |
| Valerio | va-LEER-ee-oh | Male; Nameberry | Latin/Italian; “strong” — Behind the Name |
| Vidal | VEE-dal | Male; SSA 2022 | Spanish; from Latin “life” — Behind the Name |
| Vicente | vee-SEN-tay | Male; SSA 2022 | Spanish; form of Vincent — Behind the Name |
| Vincenzo | vin-CEN-zo | Male; BabyCenter | Italian; Italian form of Vincent — Behind the Name |
| Vinnie | VIN-ee | Male; Nameberry | Diminutive of Vincent — Behind the Name |
| Van | VAN | Male; SSA 2022 | Dutch/English; from “van” (of) or Vietnamese “Van” — Behind the Name |
| Viggo | VIG-oh | Male; Nameberry | Scandinavian; possibly “battle” — Behind the Name |
| Vasily | VAH-sil-ee | Male; Nameberry | Slavic; Russian form of Basil — Behind the Name |
| Vasco | VAS-ko | Male; Nameberry | Portuguese/Basque; uncertain, possibly “crow” — Behind the Name |
| Valerian | va-LEER-ee-un | Male; Nameberry | Latin; “strong, healthy” — Behind the Name |
| Vern | VURN | Male; SSA historical | Short form of Vernon — Behind the Name |
| Vachel | VAY-chəl | Male; Nameberry | English; possibly occupational or surname-origin — Nameberry |
| Vann | VAN | Male; SSA 2022 | English; variant of Van or Welsh surname — Behind the Name |
| Vidaldo? (excluded) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Violet (excluded) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vadas? (excluded) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vinny (alt spelling) | VIN-ee | Male; Nameberry | Diminutive of Vincent — Behind the Name |
| Vashon | VASH-on | Male; BabyCenter | Possibly African-American place-name usage — BabyCenter |
| Vermont (rare) | ver-MONT | Male; BabyCenter | French place-name; “green mountain” — Toponym/BabyCenter |
| Vincens (rare) | vin-SENS | Male; Nameberry | Latin; variant of Vincent — Behind the Name |
| Vidor | VEE-dor | Male; Nameberry | Hungarian; possibly “blessed” — Behind the Name |
| Vladimir (alternate spelling Vlad) | VLAD | Male; BabyCenter | Slavic; short form of Vladimir — Behind the Name |
Descriptions
Victor
A long-standing, classic masculine name in the U.S.; common variant Viktor exists. Regular SSA presence and familiar across generations (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vincent
Widely used in the U.S., literary and saintly associations. Nicknames: Vince, Vinny. Stable popularity and many cultural references (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vance
Short, surname-turned-first-name popular in Anglo-American use. Familiar, slightly old-fashioned revival in some circles (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vaughn
Surname-origin given name common in the U.S., especially among English speakers; stylish one-syllable choice (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vernon
Traditional masculine name with steady historical U.S. use; short form Vern sometimes seen (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Virgil
Classic Roman name known from the poet Virgil; carries an old-fashioned, literary vibe in U.S. usage (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vito
Short Italian name familiar in the U.S., notable from film and pop culture. Strong, punchy sound (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vladimir
Common among Slavic-American families; recognizable and historically used in the U.S. (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Valentino
Romantic Italian name popularized by celebrity culture; stylish and increasingly visible in U.S. baby-name discussions (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Valentine
Historically masculine (Saint Valentine); used in the U.S. for boys and girls, with vintage charm (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Valen
Contemporary short form of Valentine/Valentin used in U.S. naming communities; modern, minimalist feel (Nameberry).
Valentin
Used in the U.S., often by families with European ties; formal and international-sounding (BabyCenter; Behind the Name).
Valor
Modern virtue name appearing in recent U.S. birth lists; bold, word-name choice parents pick for strength (BabyCenter; Nameberry).
Valerio
Italian/Spanish-flavored form of Valerius seen among U.S. families with Southern European heritage (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Vidal
Spanish-language name used in the U.S., familiar from public figures; concise and vintage-cool (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vicente
Common in Latino communities in the U.S.; traditional Spanish variant of Vincent (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vincenzo
Italian-American favorite with classic flair; feels both formal and charismatic in the U.S. (BabyCenter; Behind the Name).
Vinnie
Affectionate, informal form sometimes used as a legal name in the U.S.; friendly and warm (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Van
Short, unadorned name used in U.S. across cultures — Anglo and Vietnamese families both use it (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Viggo
Nordic name made familiar in the U.S. by actors; growing among parents seeking Scandinavian choices (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Vasily
Used by Russian-heritage families in the U.S.; formal, traditional Slavic name (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Vasco
Historic Iberian name occasionally used in the U.S., especially among Portuguese-speaking communities (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Valerian
Ancient Roman name adopted occasionally in the U.S.; rare, literary, and distinctive (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Vern
Old-fashioned diminutive used historically in the U.S.; sometimes appears as a given name on older records (SSA historical; Behind the Name).
Vachel
Rare vintage name in the U.S., notable from poet Vachel Lindsay; quirky literary feel (Nameberry; historical U.S. usage).
Vann
Variant spelling of Van used as a given name in the U.S.; familiar and surname-like (SSA 2022; Behind the Name).
Vidaldo? (excluded)
N/A
Violet (excluded)
N/A
Vadas? (excluded)
N/A
Vinny (alt spelling)
Casual spelling variant of Vinnie used informally or as a legal name by some U.S. families; playful and familiar (Nameberry; Behind the Name).
Vashon
Used in the U.S., often in Black communities or inspired by place names; distinct and modern-sounding (BabyCenter).
Vermont (rare)
Occasional usage as a masculine given name in the U.S.; very rare and place-inspired (BabyCenter).
Vincens (rare)
Rare variant sometimes found among families seeking unique forms of Vincent in the U.S. (Nameberry).
Vidor
Rare in the U.S., seen among families with Central/Eastern European ties; distinctive and vintage (Nameberry).
Vladimir (alternate spelling Vlad)
Used both as a legal name and nickname in the U.S.; strong Slavic identity, sometimes anglicized (BabyCenter; Behind the Name)