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Verdun
How to Pronounce Verdun
Pronounced vur-DUN /vษrหdสn/Medium
Meaning: Verdun is a place-name given as a first name in honor of the French city, site of a long and decisive First World War battle. The city's name traces to a Gaulish-Latin Virodunum, joining a Celtic viro, 'strong' or 'man', with dunum, 'fort' or 'hill' โ 'strong fort'. As a given name it is a wartime commemorative, marking the year of a boy's birth.Low
Popularity in the U.S. ยท SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880โpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Verdun honors the French city whose name comes from the Gaulish-Latin Virodunum, 'strong fort'. The prolonged battle fought there during the First World War made the name briefly meaningful, and American and Allied families gave it to sons born in those years.
It was always very rare and closely tied to its moment, reaching only a couple dozen boys a year around 1918 before all but vanishing within a few years. A Verdun from that time belongs to a great-grandfather's generation now, and the name reads as a poignant wartime marker.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Verdun mean?
It's a commemorative name from the French city and battle of Verdun, the place-name meaning 'strong fort'.
How do you pronounce Verdun?
It's said vur-DUN /vษrหdสn/, two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Verdun a boy or girl name?
Verdun is used as a boy's name.
Is Verdun a popular name?
No, it was always very rare, a wartime commemorative name seen only briefly around the First World War.