Given name & surname
Vaughan
“little”
Vaughan is a masculine given name from Welsh, meaning “little.”
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Welsh.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1911. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Vaughan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,637
- 1,615 boys · 22 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 34 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #13,759 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −41%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 13,759 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 36.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 34 in 2006. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,310 as a first name in 2020; 37,970 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Vaughan’s family of names
Vaughan has a related form in Vaughn. In English usage, Vaughan as a surname has a related form in FAUGHN. In English usage, Vaughan as a surname has a related form in VAUGHNS.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Vaughan
- Vaughan JonesNew Zealand mathematician and Fields Medalist (1952–2020)
- Vaughan GethingWelsh politician and First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024born 1974
- Vaughan PrattAustralian computer scientistborn 1944
- Vaughan LewisPrime Minister of Saint Luciaborn 1940
- Vaughan KesterU.S. novelist (1869–1911)
- Vaughan SmithEnglish journalistborn 1963
- Vaughan ArnellBritish music video directorborn 1961
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Vaughan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ieuan
“God is gracious”
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“born of Esos”
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“a sorrowful man”
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Tarian
“one acting as a shield; offering refuge”
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Aidan
“one who is fiery; little fire” · “a fiery young man”
99% boys · 1% girls
Yestin
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>99% boys
Brann
“a ravenlike woman”
>99% boys