Named after the rue Vavin, after Alexis Vavin (1792–1863).
The street was opened in 1831 on the line of the old passage de l’Ouest, on land belonging to Vavin, who gave it his name. A notary from 1822 to 1838, he promoted the Western railway company and the gare Montparnasse, and was elected deputy for Paris in 1839.