Vardan
An Armenian name meaning "rose" or "flower".
Name Census estimates that about 71 living Americans carry the first name Vardan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vardan today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vardan births was 2018 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vardan. 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 Vardan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
71
~ 1 in 4,827,526 Americans
Peak year
2018
11 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,798
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Vardan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vardan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 34 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
Vardan 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 Vardan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vardans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Vardan
The name Vardan has its origins in the Armenian language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Armenian word "vard," meaning "rose," and is believed to have been initially used as a nickname or term of endearment for those with rosy complexions or associated with the beauty of roses.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vardan can be found in the 5th century AD, when it was borne by the famous Armenian military leader and martyr, Vardan Mamikonian. He led an Armenian rebellion against the Sassanid Persians in 451 AD, fighting to preserve the Christian faith and Armenian autonomy. Despite being ultimately defeated and killed in battle, Vardan Mamikonian became a revered figure in Armenian history and folklore.
In the 7th century, another notable figure named Vardan emerged – Vardan Vardapet, an Armenian scholar and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the Armenian Apostolic Church and is credited with making significant contributions to the development of Armenian literature and religious thought.
During the Middle Ages, the name Vardan was particularly popular among the Armenian nobility and aristocracy. One prominent individual was Prince Vardan Artsruni, who ruled the Kingdom of Vaspurakan in the 10th century. He is remembered for his efforts in defending Armenian lands against invasions and promoting cultural and educational initiatives.
In the 19th century, the name Vardan gained further recognition with the Armenian writer and satirist, Vardan Aygektsi. Born in 1835, he was known for his biting social commentary and critiques of the Armenian society of his time, using humor and satire as powerful tools for social reform.
Another notable figure was Vardan Zaven, an Armenian revolutionary and one of the founders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) in the late 19th century. He played a pivotal role in the Armenian national liberation movement and advocated for the rights and independence of the Armenian people.
Throughout its history, the name Vardan has maintained its strong connection to Armenian culture and identity, carrying a sense of resilience, courage, and dedication to preserving Armenian heritage and values.
People
Vardan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vardan 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
Vardan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vardan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 71 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vardan 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 4,827,526 US residents.
Is Vardan a common name?
We classify Vardan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 72 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vardan most popular?
The single biggest year for Vardan was 2018, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vardan is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vardan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vardan 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.