Vaelin
A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "strong" or "brave".
Name Census estimates that about 26 living Americans carry the first name Vaelin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vaelin today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vaelin births was 2018 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vaelin. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vaelin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
26
~ 1 in 13,182,859 Americans
Peak year
2018
8 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2023 SSA rank
#14,029
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Vaelin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vaelin from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 13 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vaelin by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Vaelin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Vaelin
The given name Vaelin is an anglicized form of the Welsh name Gwalaun, which itself is derived from the Welsh words "gwal" meaning "hawk" and "aun" meaning "prince" or "leader". This name first appeared in written records during the 6th century AD, primarily used by Welsh nobility and royalty.
Vaelin was a relatively common name among the Welsh ruling class during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was Vaelin ap Tewdwr, a Welsh prince who lived in the late 10th century and was a descendant of the ancient royal line of Gwynedd.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Vaelin ap Rhys was a Welsh nobleman and military commander who fought against the Norman invaders of Wales. He is mentioned in several contemporary chronicles for his bravery and leadership in the Welsh resistance.
During the 13th century, a cleric named Vaelin ap Gruffydd was a prominent figure in the Welsh church, serving as the Bishop of Bangor from 1237 to 1258. He is recorded as having played a significant role in mediating disputes between the Welsh princes and the English crown.
In the 15th century, a Welsh poet named Vaelin Fychan was renowned for his poetic works in the Welsh language, which celebrated the culture and traditions of his homeland. He is considered one of the most influential poets of the Welsh Renaissance.
Another notable bearer of the name was Vaelin ap Rhys Fychan, who lived in the 16th century and was a Welsh landowner and military leader. He fought alongside the Tudor forces during the Wars of the Roses and is mentioned in several historical accounts for his loyalty and valor in battle.
While the name Vaelin has its roots in the Welsh language and culture, it has been adopted and adapted in various forms across different regions and time periods. However, it remains a relatively rare name, with its primary historical significance rooted in the rich heritage of medieval Wales.
People
Vaelin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vaelin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vaelin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vaelin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 26 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vaelin going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 13,182,859 US residents.
Is Vaelin a common name?
We classify Vaelin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 44.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vaelin most popular?
The single biggest year for Vaelin was 2018, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vaelin is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Vaelin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vaelin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vaelin in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Vaelin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vaelin in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Vaelin can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Vaelin?
Find out how many Americans are named Vaelin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.