Ville
A Finnish masculine given name of disputed meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Ville. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ville today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ville births was 2010 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ville. 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 Ville. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2010
8 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2010 SSA rank
#9,634
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Ville: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ville from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 8 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
Ville 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 Ville 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 Ville
The name Ville originates from the French language and has its roots in the Latin word "villa," meaning a country house or estate. This name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and regions influenced by French culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ville can be traced back to the 11th century, when it was used as a given name among the French nobility. The name was often associated with landowners and those who possessed large estates or manors, reflecting its connection to the word "villa."
In medieval French literature, the name Ville can be found in various chronicles and historical records. For instance, it appears in the writings of the renowned French chronicler Jean Froissart, who documented the lives of notable figures during the 14th century.
Throughout history, several individuals have borne the name Ville, leaving their mark in various fields. One notable example is Ville Valuton (1501-1568), a French scholar and humanist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient texts and languages.
Another prominent figure was Ville de la Barre (1633-1689), a French naval officer and explorer who played a crucial role in the exploration and colonization of the Caribbean region during the 17th century.
In the realm of arts and literature, Ville Hustin (1792-1865) was a French painter and illustrator known for his realistic depictions of rural life and landscapes during the Romantic era.
The name Ville also found its way into the world of sports, with Ville Peltonen (born 1973) being a renowned Finnish ice hockey player who represented his country in numerous international competitions and won several championships.
Lastly, Ville Valo (born 1976) is a Finnish musician and the lead singer of the popular rock band HIM, known for his distinctive vocal style and captivating stage presence.
These are just a few examples that illustrate the historical and cultural significance of the name Ville, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ville
People
Ville + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ville 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
Ville: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ville?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ville 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Ville a common name?
We classify Ville as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ville most popular?
The single biggest year for Ville was 2010, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ville is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ville a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ville 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.