Victor

How to say it

/ˈvɪk.tɚ/

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.

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

• Vincent To conquer, prevailing
• Leonardo Brave lion
• Antonio From the Roman Antonii family
• Felix Lucky, fortunate
• Julian Youthful, or 'of the Julii'

See Victor from another angle