Find out how popular the first name Vitus has been for the last 7 years (from 2010 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Vitus by gender

Based on the last 7 years of data, Vitus is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Vitus.

The history of the first name Vitus

The given name Vitus has its origins in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word "vita" which means "life". This name was particularly popular during the early Christian era, with its first recorded use in ancient Roman times.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing this name was Saint Vitus, a young Christian martyr who lived in Sicily during the late 3rd or early 4th century AD. According to legend, he was tortured and martyred for his Christian faith under the Roman emperor Diocletian. His feast day is celebrated on June 15th in the Roman Catholic Church.

Another notable figure associated with the name Vitus was Pope Vitus, who served as the Bishop of Rome from 657 to 672 AD. He is credited with establishing several churches and monasteries in Rome during his pontificate.

In the 12th century, the name gained further prominence with Vitus of Saxony (c. 1090-1154), a Benedictine monk and theologian who became the Bishop of Meissen in Saxony. He played a significant role in the ecclesiastical affairs of the region during his lifetime.

During the Renaissance period, Vitus Jacobaeus Zingrius (1508-1571), a German physician and botanist, made contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties. His work, "De plantis epitome utilissima" (A Most Useful Epitome of Plants), published in 1571, was an influential text in the field of botany.

In more recent history, Vitus Jonassen Bering (1681-1741), a Danish navigator and explorer, led two notable expeditions in the North Pacific Ocean during the 18th century. The Bering Strait, which separates Asia and North America, is named after him, as are the Bering Sea and the Bering Islands.

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

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

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