Declining since 2018, #4,460 for girls today.
Popularity of Vega since 1918
Babies named Vega per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
| 1920s | 0 | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 6 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 9 | 0 |
| 2000s | 166 | 22 |
| 2010s | 333 | 97 |
| 2020s | 222 | 71 |
Meaning & origin
Vega is a celestial name that has risen in use as a unisex given name, though it remains relatively rare. First recorded in the U.S. in 1918, the name saw its peak popularity in 2019 and has been falling in use since 2018, according to Social Security data. As of 2025, it ranks 4,460, with about 1 in 51,847 newborns receiving the name. Its strongest association remains with the bright star in Lyra, and it has been most common in Florida. The name's trajectory reflects a broader trend of astronomical names, though Vega's usage is less common than similar names like Nova or Luna.
Vega is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky, part of the constellation Lyra. The name comes from the Arabic phrase "an-nasr al-wāqi‘" meaning "the swooping eagle" or "the falling eagle." The star's name was adopted into Western astronomy during the medieval Islamic period, and as a given name, Vega has been used sporadically since the early 20th century, gaining modest popularity in recent decades as a celestial-inspired choice.
Where Vega is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Vega” around the world
Where Vega lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Vega
Names that share Vega's style, for a brother or sister.
