The Origin and Meaning of the Name Vega

The origin and meaning of the name Vega in Spain describe a fertile land that can be irrigated. Also, this name has an astronomical history.

Reviewed and approved by the pediatrician Marcela Alejandra Caffulli.

Written by Maria del Mar Garcia Martin

Last update: 22 February, 2023

The origin and meaning of the name Vega reveal a fascinating story full of unparalleled beauty. If you want to know more about this option because you’re thinking about choosing it for that special little girl who’s on the way, you can’t miss all the details below: Saints, people who carry this name, current statistics, and more. Take note!

Discover the origin and meaning of the name Vega

In Spain, vega is a term used to describe a fertile land that can be irrigated. In this regard, according to etymology experts, it could come from the Basque term baika, which means “river” and is related to bear (“deep land”) and beque (“flat land”), which would make it toponymic. That is, it comes from a specific place that would later give rise to the name of a person.

However, it also seems that Vega is a neutral name that has a pre-Roman Christian origin related to the Virgin of the Vega. The saint is celebrated on September 8 and is venerated in many places in Spain, such as Salamanca, where she’s the patron saint of the city, as well as Zamora, Avila, or La Rioja.

The astronomical history behind the origin and meaning of the name Vega

At the same time, Vega also exists in Arabic and refers to a “fallen eagle”. In addition, there’s a star called Vega, which is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. While the Arabs saw in this constellation an eagle swooping toward its prey, the ancient Greeks observed in it the shape of a lyre, so they referred to it as a “tortoise” in regard to the shape of the animal’s shell.

During late medieval Europe, especially after the translations of Alfonso X’s astronomy books, the Greco-Roman and Arabic traditions merged. Therefore, in this constellation, an eagle holding a lyre between its talons can be identified.

Vega, a name with surprising success

Vega carries with it translations from different languages, with different perspectives and stories, as well as allusions to famous people from pre-classical times. However, despite the fact that it may seem like a traditional Spanish choice, the truth is that it’s a name that never goes out of style. According to data collected by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in Spain, there are 14,533 women, with an average age of 6 and a half years old, who share this name.

Specifically, the areas of Valladolid, Salamanca, La Rioja, Huesca, Teruel, and Castellón, are those with the highest percentage of girls who’ve been lucky enough to have this name. But there’s no doubt that its popularity rate stands out throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

So much so that there’s also the surname Vega, which is of Castilian origin and comes from the region of Tierra de Campos, between the provinces of Valladolid, Palencia, and León. It had great renown and success in the past thanks to two of the most emblematic figures of the Spanish literary Golden Age of all times: Lope de Vega y Carpio and Garcilaso de la Vega.

Vega, a unique and incomparable woman’s name

There’s no better option to allude to that “woman who lives in fertile land” or ‘the woman who’s fertile’. Like spring, she’ll be the one who brings splendor, energy, and life with her arrival to the family. So, if you’re thinking of a special option for the future baby girl on the way, we invite you to consider the name Vega.

On the other hand, if you know someone who has the immense fortune of carrying this name, we hope these facts have surprised you and that you can pass them on.