Vicente

Vicente is a masculine given name of Spanish and Portuguese origin. It derives from the Latin Vincentius, which itself comes from vincere, meaning “to conquer” or “to win.” The name has a long history in Iberian and Latin American cultures and remains common in Spain, Portugal, and many Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. As a given name, Vicente is sometimes shortened informally to Vic, and it also appears as a surname in some families. Related forms appear in other Romance languages, such as Vincent in English and Vincenzo in Italian.

Notable people named Vicente include Vicente Fox Quesada, Mexican politician and former president (2000–2006); Vicente del Bosque, Spanish football manager and former coach of Real Madrid and the Spain national team; Vicente Aleixandre, Spanish poet and Nobel Prize in Literature (1977); and Vicente Fernández, Mexican ranchera singer and actor. These individuals illustrate the name’s broad presence across politics, sports, and culture in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world.

Vicente also appears as a surname in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking contexts and is used in various place-names and institutions, often in reference to Saint Vincent (San Vicente) or notable figures bearing the name. The name has cognates in other languages, including Vincent in English and Vincenzo in Italian, reflecting its widespread historical and cultural reach.