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

Popularity of Victor by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Victor is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Victor being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,687 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Victor.

The history of the first name Victor

The name Victor has its origins in the Latin word "victor" which means "conqueror" or "victor." It is believed to have been derived from the Latin verb "vincere" which means "to conquer" or "to overcome."

The name gained popularity in ancient Rome, where it was often given to military leaders or victorious generals as a way of celebrating their triumphs and victories on the battlefield. It was a name that carried a sense of strength, courage, and success.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Victor can be found in Roman historical records, where a Roman general named Gaius Julius Victor lived in the 1st century AD. He was known for his military conquests and victories against various barbarian tribes that threatened the Roman Empire.

In the Christian tradition, the name Victor is associated with several notable figures, including Saint Victor of Marseilles (c. 290-303 AD), a Roman soldier who was martyred for his Christian beliefs. Another notable figure was Victor of Vita (c. 430-490 AD), a historian who chronicled the persecution of Christians in North Africa during the Vandal invasion.

Throughout history, the name Victor has been borne by several influential individuals, including:

1. Victor Hugo (1802-1885), a renowned French novelist, poet, and playwright, best known for his works such as "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."

2. Victor Emmanuel II (1820-1878), the first King of a united Italy, who played a pivotal role in the Italian unification movement.

3. Victor Fleming (1889-1949), an American film director best known for directing the classic film "Gone with the Wind."

4. Victor Frankenstein, the fictional character and protagonist in Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein" (1818), who created a sentient being in a scientific experiment.

5. Victor Borge (1909-2000), a Danish-American comedian, conductor, and pianist, renowned for his unique blend of humor and classical music performances.

The name Victor has continued to be popular across various cultures and regions, carrying with it a sense of triumph, victory, and overcoming challenges.

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 Victor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Victor, 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!