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Vaughan
Pronounced VAWN /ˈvɔːn/High
Meaning: From the Welsh bychan, 'small; little' (mutated to fychan/vaughan), originally a descriptive byname. A classic Welsh surname turned given name.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Vaughan traces to Welsh bychan, 'small; little,' softened to fychan and anglicized as Vaughan. Long a surname — think metaphysical poet Henry Vaughan — it reads as a crisp, heritage-rich given name (said 'VAWN').
In the U.S. it appears rarely as a first name, more familiar as a surname. Rare, sleek, and Welsh-rooted.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Vaughan mean?
Vaughan is a Welsh name meaning 'small; little,' from bychan — a surname turned given name.
How do you pronounce Vaughan?
It's said VAWN /vɔːn/ — one syllable.
Is Vaughan a boy or girl name?
Vaughan is a boy's name.
How popular is Vaughan?
Vaughan is a rare name in the U.S.