Vasco, originating from the Portuguese name Vasco, meaning "mercial" or "trade", is of Spanish and Portuguese descent. It was traditionally given to a child born during Lent season due to its association with St. Vincent of Saragossa, who was known as Vicente in Spanish. The name gained prominence during the Age of Discoveries, inspired by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (1469-1524), who led the first expedition from Europe to reach India around the Cape of Good Hope. Consequently, Vasco became popular in Portugal and its former colonies, particularly Brazil. Today, it is recognized as a strong, historical name with ties to exploration and commerce.
The name Vasco experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with periods of high and low births. The highest number of births occurred in 1916 with 18 babies, while some years saw as few as five births (1935, 1938, 1948, 2017, 2018). Despite these variations, the name has maintained a consistent presence over time, with a total of 492 births recorded between 1910 and 2023.