This post was originally published on December 24, 2009. It was substantially revised and re-posted on August 17, 2015.
It’s on an-trend name from the night sky and the silver screen.
Thanks to Shelby for suggesting Vesper as our Baby Name of the Day.
Vesper: Bond, James Bond
Ian Fleming introduced James Bond in 1953’s Casino Royale. He wrote more than a dozen novels about the suave secret agent.
Vesper Lynd was created by Fleming for Bond’s first adventure. Her name is a play on West Berlin. In Casino Royale, she’s a double agent – as divided as the city – but Vesper ultimately proves herself loyal to James.The book was adapted for the big screen for the second time in 2006, with Eva Green as the double agent.
It’s said that Fleming based Vesper on a real life spy, Poland’s Krystyna Skarbek, a woman he knew in her later years. Resourceful Skarbek organized couriers to bring intelligence reports from Warsaw to Budapest during World War II. She escaped the Gestapo in Hungary. In France, she once cajoled, threatened and bribed Gestapo agents into releasing two of her male colleagues. Her real life story is arguably more intriguing than the fictional character she inspired.
Vesper: Night Sky
Bond girl aside, Vesper is the Latin term for the evening star, which was actually the planet Venus.
But wait, you say, the Roman god Vesper is masculine. In Greek, he’s Hespeus. In both traditions, he’s the son of the dawn, the brother of the morning star.
Should we cede Vesper to the boys?
Maybe. But there are also the Hesperides, nymphs of the sunset and the evening. The Greeks believed that they lived in a garden somewhere on the edge of the world. Sometimes there are just three; other accounts list more. Heracles visited the garden for his eleventh labor, to steal the apples they tended.
The Hesperides became popular in Renaissance art, and their garden is mentioned by everyone from Milton to Shakespeare.
Vesper: Add an ‘s’
Vespers – add an ‘s’ – is also known as evensong, an evening prayer service in several religious traditions. Mozart and Vivaldi are among those who have composed musical accompaniments.
Evening prayer services date back to the earliest days of the church in the ancient world. St. Benedict may have been the first to use the term, back in the sixth century. Specifics vary over the centuries and by faith tradition, but it has traditionally been one of the more important and solemn prayer services of the day.
Vesper: Rarity on the Rise
There have been a handful of newborn boys and girls given the name over the years. But Vesper’s use has recently picked up. 35 girls were given the name in 2013, and 52 in 2014 – a new high.
And why not?
- Parents love a name with meaning, especially a subtle, spiritual one.
- With Harper and Piper on the rise, Vesper’s -r ending is stylish.
- We’re also fans of the letter V, from Ava and Olivia to Everly and Vivienne.
- Nature names, including those from the night sky, are very much in vogue.
Pop culture references include:
- Lloyd Alexander gave the name to the adventurous orphan in a series of young adult novels.
- It’s a surname for one of the families in the 39 Clues series of bestselling adventure noels.
- A minor character in the Batman comics was named Vesper Fairchild. She was a love interest for Bruce Wayne. There’s also a Vesper in Marvel’s Genetix series.
Overall, Vesper remains rare. But in our age of Harper, Vivienne, and Stella, it’s a wearable choice. If you’re after something that stands out and fits in, Vesper is one to consider.
What do you think of Vesper? Is this name too Bond girl, or just right for a baby?
Interesting thread. I had never seen this page before. Coincidentally, my middle name is Vesperena, and am the youngest of 5 with my oldest sibling being named Venus. (Evening and Morning ). Clearly, my father had an appreciation for Roman mythology as we all studied Latin throughout our schooling in the 80s. I have always wondered if there were any other Vesperena’s out there or whether I was flying solo on this planet??
I used to think it would be a good name for a yacht!
Vesperana is fascinating! It looks like it has never been given to even five girls in a single year – at least not as a first name. Searching old records on Ancestry.com and other genealogical sites, I can see plenty of woman named Vesperina, plus a few called Vespera, but so far, no Vesperanas!
Huh…I’m Eastern Orthodox, so all I think of is Vespers (evening prayer service). It’d be like naming a kid Liturgy or Mass. 🙂
Oh no — I only see two sentences of this entry! And I so want to find out more about Vesper. 🙁
What about Vespertine? I love Vesper, but my husband says it sounds like the whispers of a Vespa…which make me think of hot nights in Italy and what’s not to love about that?! He doesn’t seem to agree. Anyway, for a middle I feel I need three syllables so maybe adding the tine…
Hetta, I love Vespertine, or Versperinia or Vesperina or Vespera. Let’s not forget about the “Batman comic series as a TV and radio newscaster named Vesper Fairchild, who had a romantic relationship with Bruce Wayne.” – http://www.onceuponatimebabynames.com/2012/12/vesper-vespera-or-vespertine.html . But on a side-note Hespertine, Hespera, HHesperina and Hesperinia would also make great option without having to use the V and still get the same meaning.
After reading this post, I am finding myself in love with the name Vesper! I never would have thought (my husband owns Casino Royale and I’ve watched it several times). After thinking about it more though, I think it’s really pretty and yet has a hip vibe to it too. Could be a contender for baby #2…
LOL Kelleita – there is far more to Vesper than I thought at first, too.
Is no one else picturing a wee motorbike in their heads the whole time reading this? I love the name and especially the meaning but don’t think I could ever use it, even in the middle. Vesper / Vespa is just too close for me!
You’re right, Bevin – though vespa is Italian for wasp.
I love Vesper. . . in the middle.
a) I LOVE that you used the corect spelling of hiccough! I used it recently and got ridiculed.
b) I don’t care much fo Vesper, but you mentioned Seren, and this one is very interesting. Vesper also reminds me of the Vespa, a motor-scooter.
Want to do Seren fo NotD? I’d also like to see Roxanne, and maybe you could throw in Cyrano, while you’re at it. 😉
I’m laughing ’cause I just read through the replies. Yeah, someone did mention hiccough. Hiccup is just too phonetic for me, as is donut! 😉
Seren was NotD back in September: https://appellationmountain.net/2009/09/22/name-of-the-day-seren/
I’ve traveled without my calendar – really, why can’t I find an electronic solution?! But I will put Roxy on the calendar. When we’re reunited. 🙂
It has a stunning meaning. I actually kind of like it. It has a sassy sound to it. Very vivacious. I think it’s not really me. It’s not my style of different. However,if you like it – go for it! I think it would be interesting to meet a Vesper 🙂
If any of you ever read Casino Royale, Eva Green who played Vesper in the movie is Fleming’s physical description come to life!
Merry Christmas 🙂
Vesper is lovely. But “hiccough”? JK
LOL – I’m rather fond of hiccough! I also like doughnut.
But what I like best of all is that you noticed. 🙂
You probably like “catsup” too! 🙂
I’m Catholic – all I can think of is vespers as in evening services thanks to attending Catholic school for a whopping year and a half.
I’m glad you’ve added to my knowledge about this name. It is helpful to know it means “evening star”. Since one of Mary’s titles is “Morning Star”, that hopefully helps me to remember the connection should I run into a little Vesper.
Christina, I’m Catholic, too, but I went to a Moravian school. Every Christmas there was a big deal service called Vespers, complete with little beeswax candles. It was the most amazing thing, second only to Thanksgiving’s Lovefeast where we actually got to eat cookies in church. (JNE, am I calling the Thanksgiving service the right thing? It looks absurd now that I type it.)
I can’t decide if that makes Vesper a Very Appropriate Seasonal name or puts her back in the company of Trinity.
Yep – indeed it was Lovefeast… complete with the “melt me, mold me, fill me, use me” song, it was outright strange… but the cookies and apple juice made up for it!
Vesper makes me think of Moravian Christmas, 007, then the Vespa scooter… unfortunately it doesn’t make for a name that I’d be inclined to use.
Thanks, JNE – I COMPLETELY forgot about the lyric weirdness! 🙂