Vaughn first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Vaughn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Vaughn

From a Welsh surname meaning small or diminutive.

Popularity of Vaughn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Vaughn is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 95% of people named Vaughn being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 162 male babies and 17 female babies born with the name Vaughn.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 17 baby girls were named Vaughn in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 162 17
2022 176 24
2021 183 24
2020 180 17
2019 190 22
2018 188 24
2017 216 20
2016 261 24
2015 251 14
2014 226 26
2013 247 21
2012 245 12
2011 226 8
2010 215 17
2009 270 14
2008 254 15
2007 306 10
2006 290 14
2005 254 0
2004 230 5
2003 219 12
2002 172 7
2001 161 8
2000 169 7
1999 162 6
1998 167 7
1997 149 7
1996 140 5
1995 143 0
1994 214 7
1993 174 9
1992 188 5
1991 181 12
1990 184 6
1989 168 0
1988 140 5
1987 181 0
1986 142 6
1985 130 0
1984 136 5
1983 124 0
1982 126 0
1981 140 5
1980 167 8
1979 131 0
1978 137 0
1977 136 5
1976 126 7
1975 148 0
1974 141 0

The history of the first name Vaughn

The given name Vaughn has its origins in the Welsh language and culture, stemming from the medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "bychan," meaning "small" or "little." The name was initially a nickname or descriptive term for someone of diminutive stature or a younger child.

Early records show variations in spelling, such as "Vaughan," "Vachan," and "Vychan," reflecting the evolution of the name over time. As a distinctly Welsh name, it was primarily found in regions like Wales and the bordering areas of England during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest notable references to the name can be found in the Welsh chronicles, where it appears as a personal name and a surname among the noble families of Wales. For instance, Sir Roger Vaughan was a Welsh military leader who fought alongside Owain Glyndŵr during the Welsh Revolt against the English in the early 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name gained wider recognition with figures like Sir Thomas Vaughan (1492-1536), a Welsh diplomat and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. Another prominent bearer was the philosopher and alchemist Thomas Vaughan (1621-1666), also known as Eugenius Philalethes, who wrote extensively on mysticism and occult subjects.

During the 17th century, the name crossed the Atlantic with Welsh settlers in colonial America. One notable example is William Vaughan (1621-1683), a Welsh merchant and co-founder of the colony of Rhode Island, who played a significant role in the establishment of religious freedom in the region.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with the acclaimed British poet and priest Henry Vaughan (1621-1695), known for his metaphysical and religious poems, such as "The World" and "The Retreat."

Moving into the 19th century, Vaughn Roderick Pryor (1826-1859) was a renowned American chess master and one of the strongest players of his time, contributing to the development of the game in the United States.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Vaughn throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Vaughn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Vaughn, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Vaughn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/vaughn-meaning-and-history/.

"Vaughn first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/vaughn-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Vaughn first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/vaughn-meaning-and-history/.

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