NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Vigo

A German name derived from the Old German word "wig" meaning "battle.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Vigo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Vigo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.

This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2011 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Vigo. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Vigo ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 boys were registered as Vigo.
  • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vigo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3523

2023

Births in 2023

5

Latest year

Peak year

2011

5 births

Estimated living

13

2026

Meaning

What does Vigo mean?

The name Vigo is of Spanish origin, derived from the ancient Roman name Vigius or Vicius. It is believed to have its roots in the Latin word "vigere," which means "to thrive" or "to be vigorous." The name was popular during the medieval period in Spain and Portugal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vigo can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis," a collection of medieval charters and documents from the Abbey of Cava in southern Italy, dating back to the 11th century. In these records, a nobleman named Vigo de Castilla is mentioned as a prominent figure in the region.

The name Vigo gained further prominence in the 13th century when a Spanish knight named Vigo de Aragón played a significant role in the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to drive the Moors out of the Iberian Peninsula. His bravery and military exploits were chronicled in contemporary accounts, solidifying the name's association with valor and strength.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vigo. One of the earliest was Vigo Jacobsen (1538-1612), a Danish explorer and navigator who accompanied the ill-fated expedition of John Davis to the Arctic regions in the late 16th century. His accounts of the voyage and the harsh conditions faced by the crew contributed to the understanding of the Arctic at the time.

In the realm of art, Vigo Tortelli (1667-1737) was an Italian painter and engraver of the Baroque period, known for his religious works and portraiture. His most famous painting, "The Ecstasy of St. Teresa," adorns the walls of the Santa Maria della Vittoria church in Rome.

The name Vigo also found its way into the world of literature through Vigo Andersen (1853-1922), a Norwegian novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class. His novel "Byens Børn" (Children of the City) is considered a classic of Norwegian literature.

During the 20th century, Vigo Lørringen (1892-1967) was a prominent Norwegian actor and director who helped shape the country's theater scene. He co-founded the influential theater company Det Norske Teatret and directed numerous acclaimed productions, leaving a lasting impact on Norwegian dramatic arts.

In the field of science, Vigo Rasmussen (1919-2001) was a Danish physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. His work laid the foundation for modern MRI scanners, revolutionizing medical imaging and diagnosis.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Vigo over time

The chart below shows babies named Vigo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Vigo, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Vigo
01345201120172023

Decades

Vigo by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vigo was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3523 5 1
2010s #4053 8 2

Related

Names similar to Vigo

FAQ

Vigo: questions and answers

How popular is the name Vigo in the UK right now?

In 2023, Vigo was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Vigo most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Vigo in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Vigo?

A German name derived from the Old German word "wig" meaning "battle.".

How many people are called Vigo in the UK?

A total of 13 babies have been registered as Vigo across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.