Meaning & origin
What it means
Vinny is a diminutive of Vincent. Vincent means “conquering.”
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where it comes from
In English use, Vinny is a diminutive of Lavinia. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Vinny is a diminutive of Vincent. In English usage, Vinny is a diminutive of Lavinia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1948. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Vinny is a diminutive of Lavinia. The history of Lavinia gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Lavinia is associated with the daughter of Latinus and wife of Aeneas.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Vinny through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,359
- 1,359 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 63 babies
- 2025
- 63
- #2,256 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +32%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 63 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,256 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 31.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,586 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Vinny’s family of names
In English usage, Vinny is a diminutive of Vincent. Vinny has a related form in Vincent. In English usage, Vinny is a diminutive of Lavinia.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Vinny
- Vinny AppiceAmerican drummerborn 1957
- Vinny Del NegroRetired United States basketball player and former head coachborn 1966
- Vinny VellaAmerican actor (1947-2019)
- Vinny TestaverdeAll-American college football player, professional football player, quarterback, Heisman Trophy winnerborn 1963
- Vinny SamwaysEnglish footballer (born 1968)
- Vinny PazAmerican boxerborn 1962
- Vinny CurryAmerican football playerborn 1988
- Vinny GuadagninoAmerican television personalityborn 1988
- Vinny AroraIndian television actressborn 1991
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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