He’s a classic name that will be instantly familiar, but not as common as William or Alex. Plus he starts with that vibrant V.
Thanks to Another for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Vincent.
Vinny had his moment in the sun. Today’s parents probably think of a novice attorney straight outta Brooklyn like the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny. Or maybe John Travolta’s Sweathog/heartthrob Vinnie Barbarino on 1970s staple Welcome Back, Kotter.
But Travolta’s big career comeback was in 1994′s Pulp Fiction as Vincent Vega. And that’s the trick with this name – reinvent him as Vincent or Vince as he’s quite stylish.
Vincent is another Roman appellation, popular into the early Middle Ages and used to varying degrees ever since. If you recall Julius Caesar’s vini, vidi, vici, then you already known Vincent’s meaning. The phrase translates to “I came, I saw, I conquered,” and that last bit – vici, from vincere, is the source of Vincent.
Conquerer is a rather aggressive meaning, but the name spread in popularity due to several influential saints, including:
- Vincent of Saragossa was martyred under Diocletian in the early 300s;
- Along with his brothers Orontius and Victor, another Vincent evangelized in the Pyrenees. All three met their deaths in the early 300s;
- Vincent of Lérins wrote several theological pieces in the 400s;
- Vincent Madelgarus established monasteries in the 600s.
Today, the most famous Saint Vincent is probably Saint Vincent de Paul, born in the 1500s, who dedicated his life to serving the poor.
Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name is probably 19th century artist Vincent Van Gogh. His works, including Irises and Sunflowers, remain popular favorites – and pricey acquisitions for collectors. If artistic Jackson can scale the heights of popularity, why not Vincent?
There are also a handful of noble Vincents, including a Duke of Mantua in the early 1600s. But it’s the modern Vincents, real and fictional, who give this name some zip:
- Actor Vince Vaughn has gone from cult classics like Swingers to box office hits like Wedding Crashers;
- There’s also Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s Vincent D’Onofrio and Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser and Vin Diesel, born Mark Sinclair Vincent;
- Football gives us Vince Lombardi and Vinny Testaverde;
- Plus former Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale, whose story made into the 2006 movie Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg;
- Musical Vinces range from the composer responsible for the Peanuts soundtrack – Vince Guaraldi – to Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil to Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill;
- There’s also Vincent Chase, the appealing actor played by Adrian Grenier on HBO Original Series Entourage. Chase is named after legendary acting teacher Vincent Chase;
- Need a lullabye? Don “American Pie” McLean also released a single titled “Vincent” in 1971;
- And what would horror movies be without the legendary Vincent Price?
Vincent has clocked plenty of time in the US Top 100 – from 1910 to 1933; for most of 1955 to 1973 and again from 1983 to 1992. But he’s never been a trendy choice and tends to feel classic rather than over-exposed. As of 2009, he’d plateaued at #119 – a comfortable spot for parents seeking the familiar, but not too common.
He’ll travel well, too. Vincent is a Top 50 pick in Sweden and Germany, and he translates into nearly any European language.
If you’re looking for an underused classic, Vincent is one to consider.
Note: This post was originally published on October 16, 2008 and was substantially revised in August 2010.
I’m Italian-American and have an Aunt Vinnie, short for Vincenza, and would rather use that than Vincent.
To me, Vince or Vinny or Vincent is horrible. I also have an Uncle Vinny, on the other side of my mom’s family, who’s irritating and annoying and makes me hate the name.
The other Vincent I know is called Michael Vincent, the entire Michael Vincent. He’s 15 and still Michael Vincent. I don’t like it either.
What, no mention of Vincent Price? For shame, Verity!
And Vin Diesel is a Vincent as well. Now, Vincent Price makes me love Vincent but Vin Diesel put the cool back into Vincent, if you ask me.
As a former Jersey girl, Vincent says one thing to me: Mobster. It just does. So while I love him for one reason, I could never use him for the other. But gods, he is the most dashing, debonair, suave dude! I know my other half loves him (because he’s a horror buff and Price rules) but I can’t get past the “Sopranos” feel of him. And Vinny? Oh, I hear him in a Brooklyn accent every time! I’d still think about him in the middle, if nothing but to please the other half, but really.. ___ ___ Vincent MacKenzie ? or ___ Vincent __ Mackenzie? Kind of culture – clashy, methinks.
He’d have to go to someone else. So sad. I think he’s wicked cool.
Sorry.. Vin Diesel’s surname is Vincent! Still cool.
I would like to meet one, but I couldn’t bring myself to use him. I grew up on the East coast, and the nasally sound of a Rhode Islander saying Vinny makes me cringe. Personally, Vincent is in the same category as Raymond and Bruce. I would like to hear a child named that, but I couldn’t do it!
Verity, we were sitting around last night, and Kevin brought up a name I’m both intruiged and amused by: Daria. I know it’s decently rare, but I would like to hear your take on it.
I love Vincent. My cousin has a friend named Vincent and we call him Vinny. He’s a nice guy who always used to give me money just for the hell of it. My friend also decided to name her son Vincent but the way she spelled it is awful (Vynsynt).
It’s a great name. I would save it for the middle spot though since it is so popular for a first name. I don’t want my kids sharing their names with other kids in their classes. lol
I think both Vince Vega in Pulp Fiction and the British ex- football turned actor hard man Vinnie Jones as well as various other Vinnies and Vince’s along the way have all aided my impression of Vincent as a hard nosed Italian -American gangster type. It’s not my thing but Vincent is a pretty cool name and very unusual in the UK – I would be delighted to meeet a young Vincent!
AGH! I forgot to mention Vincent Price. You’re right, Lola, I need to go hang my head in shame now.
Okay, I’m back.
Vincent was a tough one for me, because it dominates the Italian-American side of my family tree. We’re not mafioso, but a few of the Vincents on my mother’s side look like they *could* be.
But Vince really does seem like he could make a comeback – better Vince than Lance, Chance, Chase or some of those other names that I always think of as better suited to a soap opera character than a real live human being.
And I forgot one more Vince – Entourage’s Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier. I’m Netflixing my way through the series while trapped in the house with a babe in arms.
Laney, I forgot about your friend’s Vynsynt. Shudder. Again.
Kayt, I’m (tragically) overdue to update the calendar – I’ll work Daria into it, promise. Thanks for the suggestion.
lol. Yep, Vynsynt makes me shudder too. I asked her at least a thousand times why she spelled it that way and no answer. She just has weird taste in names I guess. She plans on giving her new baby a messed up name too. She’s got a long list of odd names going already and it keeps getting longer. I feel so bad for the kids cuz they’ll be correcting people forever and they’re not gonna be taken seriously.
I really like Vincent, just wish it worked my hubby’s last name…
It got a cool modern vibe, but of course it also has history and substance. I’m surprised it’s such a popular baby name. (#86 in my state!) Even with the girls going to Catholic school, most of the Vincents I know of are 65+.
Vincent D’Onofrio makes everything about the name Vincent better!
Besides the Vincents already mentioned, there’s also Vincent Freeman, Ethan Hawke’s charactyer from Gattaca, and Vincent the dog who outlasts most of the other characters on Lost.
I’ve known quite a few Vincents — most of them Chinese Canadians whose parents chose their name because of Vincent’s similarity to the word “win”, believed to bring good fortune to its bearer.
One of our neighborhood kids is named Vincent. It still feels a little dated to me. And Vincent/Vinny still say Italian to me too. But Vince/Vin I think are fresh and less culturally specific. There’s also Vince Gill. (All the Vince’s I know are Southern. Hmmm….)
My husband and I chose Vincent (Vince) for our son for many of the reasons mentioned in the article. Classic, familiar but not common. In our state it is not common at all. My husband and I debated a long time about names. He wanted a traditional name that could have a one syllable nickname. All the men in both of our families have these type of names, Mike, Steve, Mark, Dan, Jim, Jeff, Rob, and many more. I wanted something “different”. I didn’t want my child to go to school and be Jack B., I hope and pray that there will not be another Vince in Kindergarten. It was a bonus that this name continues the family “V” tradition, he is the 5th that I know of. My husband and I have zero Italian heritage, but we love this classic LATIN name anyway. We are considering a second child and need a name that compliments Vincent but is not too similar. Any suggestions?
Hi Vanessa,
The name that springs to mind for a son is Calvin, nicknamed Cal. The only drawback is that Calvincent can be smooshed together. But he meets most of your criteria, I think. There’s also Henry, nicknamed Hank, or Jeremy, nicknamed Jem. But Jem might not meet the one-syllable nickname test quite as well.
For girls: Veronica, Claudia, Lucia … and I just ran across an Antonella. It’s awfully frilly, but I kind of love it. Are there other criteria for a daughter’s name?
Best,
Abby
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