How to say it
VIC · tor
ˈvɪk.tɚ
Masculine
Victor
Conqueror, victor
What it means
Latin victor, 'conqueror.' Common Roman cognomen, then taken by saints, then by Romance-language royal lines. Victor Hugo and Frankenstein's Victor Frankenstein are the two strongest literary anchors.
Victor comes directly from the Latin victor ('conqueror'). It was a common Roman cognomen and was taken by several early-Christian martyrs and saints (Saint Victor of Marseille was the most prominent). The Italian Vittorio, Spanish Víctor, and French Victor are all the same root. Victor Emmanuel II became the first king of unified Italy in 1861. Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein (1818) and Victor Hugo (1802-1885) are the two literary anchors. The English Victor was particularly strong in the early 20th century, faded mid-century, and is now climbing again with broader Latino-crossover usage. Vic is the standard short.
How to spell Victor
The standard spelling is Victor. Common variants include Víctor, Vittorio, but Victor is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #63 in 1918, currently #211 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Victor Frankenstein (the scientist, not the monster) is the literary anchor; Victor Hugo the French novelist is the second; Top Gun: Maverick's Victor (Tom Cruise's call sign) is the modern nod.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Victor Hugo French novelist and poet, Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
- Victor Frankenstein Mary Shelley's scientist in Frankenstein, 1818
- Victor Emmanuel II First king of unified Italy, 1861
Spelling variants
- Víctor
- Vittorio
Names with the same feeling
See Victor from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Victor mean?
- Latin victor, 'conqueror.' Common Roman cognomen, then taken by saints, then by Romance-language royal lines. Victor Hugo and Frankenstein's Victor Frankenstein are the two strongest literary anchors.
- What does Victor mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Victor means "Conqueror, victor." Victor comes directly from the Latin victor ('conqueror'). It was a common Roman cognomen and was taken by several early-Christian martyrs and saints (Saint Victor of Marseille was the most prominent). The Italian Vittorio, Spanish Víctor, and French Victor are all the same root. Victor Emmanuel II became the first king of unified Italy in 1861. Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein (1818) and Victor Hugo (1802-1885) are the two literary anchors. The English Victor was particularly strong in the early 20th century, faded mid-century, and is now climbing again with broader Latino-crossover usage. Vic is the standard short.
- How do you pronounce Victor?
- Victor is pronounced ˈvɪk.tɚ. Say it as VIC-tor, with the stress on the "vic" syllable.
- How do you spell Victor?
- The standard spelling is Victor. Common spelling variants include Víctor, Vittorio.
- Is Victor a boy or girl name?
- Victor is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Victor?
- Victor ranked #211 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.