Vance Boy

Popularity: #739 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Vans /væns/

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: marshland; French: from the marsh

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Vance has its roots in the Old English word "fenn," which means "marsh" or "fen." This term evolved through the Middle English period, where it was used to describe someone who lived near or in a marshy area. The name likely entered the English lexicon as a surname before transitioning into a given name.

The surname Vance is believed to have originated in England, particularly in the regions of East Anglia, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. Historically, the name Vance has been associated with various notable figures, although specific references in historical texts are sparse.

The surname gained some prominence in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where it was borne by several influential individuals. One notable figure is the American politician and lawyer Zebulon Baird Vance, who served as the Governor of North Carolina during the Civil War era in the 1860s.

His legacy contributed to the name's recognition in American history. Culturally, the name Vance carries connotations of strength and resilience, likely stemming from its association with the natural landscape of marshes, which can be both challenging and beautiful.

The name has also been linked to various literary works and artistic expressions, reflecting themes of nature and the human experience. While diminutive forms or variations of Vance are not widely noted, the name's straightforward phonetic structure lends itself to affectionate adaptations in informal contexts.

Overall, Vance embodies a connection to the English landscape and has historical significance through its association with notable figures and cultural narratives.

Famous people named Vance

In this section, you will find notable people named Vance. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Vance who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Vance who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Vance Joy is a singer-songwriter best known for Riptide, Mess Is Mine, and Saturday Sun.

Vance Packard was a social critic and author best known for The Hidden Persuaders, The Waste Makers, and The Status Seekers.

Fictional characters named Vance

The following list of fictional characters named Vance is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Vance is a fictional character from the video game series Fallout. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Steel and plays a significant role in the storyline of Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Vance, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LanceChanceJaceBlakeGrantReece

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Vance. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

VaughnVanVinceVictorValVitoVernVancey

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Vance was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Vance has ranked as high as #728 nationally, which occurred in 1969, and has been most popular in California, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Vance has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Vance is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Vance was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Vance.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 200 200 0
2024 226 226 0
2023 237 237 0
2022 229 229 0
2021 242 242 0
2020 221 221 0
2019 245 245 0
2018 220 220 0
2017 265 265 0
2016 248 248 0
2015 318 318 0
2014 246 246 0
2013 245 245 0
2012 255 255 0
2011 300 300 0
2010 289 289 0
2009 294 294 0
2008 290 290 0
2007 318 318 0
2006 298 298 0
2005 261 261 0
2004 231 231 0
2003 242 242 0
2002 198 198 0
2001 170 170 0
2000 141 141 0
1999 165 165 0
1998 135 135 0
1997 175 175 0
1996 162 162 0
1995 162 162 0
1994 186 186 0
1993 218 218 0
1992 237 237 0
1991 243 243 0
1990 246 246 0
1989 262 262 0
1988 250 244 6
1987 212 212 0
1986 162 162 0
1985 162 162 0
1984 160 160 0
1983 198 198 0
1982 171 171 0
1981 152 152 0
1980 152 152 0
1979 162 162 0
1978 172 172 0
1977 145 145 0
1976 209 209 0
1975 166 166 0
1974 176 176 0
1973 250 250 0
1972 226 226 0
1971 340 340 0
1970 407 407 0
1969 555 555 0
1968 332 332 0
1967 288 288 0
1966 299 299 0
1965 384 384 0
1964 412 406 6
1963 462 457 5
1962 436 431 5
1961 463 463 0
1960 450 450 0
1959 411 411 0
1958 376 376 0
1957 462 462 0
1956 359 359 0
1955 321 321 0
1954 279 279 0
1953 338 338 0
1952 309 309 0
1951 304 304 0
1950 261 261 0
1949 267 267 0
1948 249 249 0
1947 281 281 0
1946 231 224 7
1945 208 208 0
1944 189 189 0
1943 166 166 0
1942 150 150 0
1941 176 176 0
1940 165 165 0
1939 149 149 0
1938 152 152 0
1937 137 137 0
1936 166 166 0
1935 143 143 0
1934 168 168 0
1933 146 146 0
1932 141 134 7
1931 150 150 0
1930 163 156 7
1929 142 142 0
1928 185 180 5
1927 168 168 0
1926 176 171 5
1925 191 186 5
1924 152 152 0
1923 171 166 5
1922 204 199 5
1921 170 164 6
1920 216 207 9
1919 164 158 6
1918 197 190 7
1917 202 196 6
1916 183 177 6
1915 141 132 9
1914 140 134 6
1913 108 108 0
1912 76 71 5
1911 42 37 5
1910 30 30 0
1909 40 40 0
1908 30 30 0
1907 19 19 0
1906 19 19 0
1905 26 26 0
1904 19 19 0
1903 25 25 0
1902 23 23 0
1901 13 13 0
1900 15 15 0
1899 15 15 0
1898 17 17 0
1897 12 12 0
1896 18 18 0
1895 26 26 0
1894 20 20 0
1893 24 19 5
1892 18 18 0
1891 19 19 0
1890 13 13 0
1889 12 12 0
1888 7 7 0
1887 10 10 0
1886 9 9 0
1885 12 12 0
1884 13 13 0
1883 9 9 0
1882 5 5 0
1881 7 7 0
1880 7 7 0

Top States for Vance (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 24
14%
OH 15
9%
TX 14
8%
NC 13
8%
FL 12
7%
IN 9
5%
MN 9
5%
PA 9
5%
MD 8
5%
UT 8
5%
WI 8
5%
WA 7
4%
GA 6
4%
TN 5
3%
LA 5
3%
VA 5
3%
MO 5
3%
NJ 5
3%