Fun Facts About the Name Vachel
- 20 babies named Vachel: U.S. records list 20 babies given the name Vachel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Vachel Mean?
Vachel is an English name taken from the surname Vachel. The surname is usually explained as 'cowherd' or 'cattle keeper.' It comes from Old French vache 'cow,' which in turn comes from Latin vacca. The ending -el is a diminutive, so the name's literal sense is 'little cow.' The occupational sense comes from the same cattle-keeping root that produced Old French vachier 'cowherd.' Vachel is not related to the Welsh name Vaughan, which comes from a different root.
Vachel Name History & Origins
Vachel is rare as a given name and belongs to the English practice of using surnames as first names. The surname Vachel is found in England, where Vachell is a related spelling. It is of Old French origin, and surnames of that type became established in England after the Norman Conquest. In the United States, the best-known bearer is the poet Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931), whose full name was Nicholas Vachel Lindsay. He was named after his father, Vachel Thomas Lindsay, so the name was already a family name before the poet's literary career. Lindsay published under the name Vachel Lindsay, which is how most readers encounter it.
How Popular is the Name Vachel?
Vachel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1958. Its best rank was #4,426 in 1956.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | #4,476 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #4,426 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1924 | #4,917 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #4,915 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with V
How the Name Vachel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Vachel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Vachel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.