Vahe
One of the forms of the Armenian name Vahagn or Vahan, meaning "bearer" or "fighter".
Name Census estimates that about 260 living Americans carry the first name Vahe. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vahe today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vahe births was 1991 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vahe. 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.
People living today
260
~ 1 in 1,318,286 Americans
Peak year
1991
12 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,201
Tracked since 1922
Popularity
Vahe: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vahe from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 83 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Vahe remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vahe 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 Vahe during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vahes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Vahe
The name Vahe is of Armenian origin, derived from the Armenian word "vahagn," which means "the bearer of good news" or "the bringer of glad tidings." It has its roots in the ancient Indo-European languages and is closely related to the Sanskrit word "vahni," meaning "fire." The name Vahe is believed to have been in use since the early days of Armenian civilization, dating back to the 6th century BC.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Vahe can be found in the Armenian epic poem "Daredevils of Sassoun," which dates back to the 8th century AD. The poem features a character named Vahe, who is depicted as a brave and valiant warrior. This literary reference suggests that the name was already well-established in Armenian culture during the medieval period.
In the 5th century AD, there was a renowned Armenian scholar and theologian named Vahe Sarvegahyants, who made significant contributions to the development of Armenian literature and philosophy. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Armenian intellectual thought.
Another notable historical figure bearing the name Vahe was Vahe Artsruni, an Armenian prince who lived in the 10th century AD. He was a prominent military leader and played a crucial role in defending the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan against the invading Byzantine forces.
In the 19th century, Vahe Hayrapetian was a prominent Armenian writer and journalist. He was known for his satirical works and his contributions to the development of modern Armenian literature.
During the 20th century, Vahe Vahian was a celebrated Armenian painter and sculptor. Born in 1907, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in Armenian contemporary art, known for his unique style and innovative techniques.
These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who have borne the name Vahe, which has a rich cultural heritage and a significant presence in Armenian history and literature.
People
Vahe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vahe 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
Vahe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vahe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 260 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vahe 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 1,318,286 US residents.
Is Vahe a common name?
We classify Vahe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 275 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vahe most popular?
The single biggest year for Vahe was 1991, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vahe is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vahe a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vahe 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.
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.