 The bay was named by a member of the Baudin expedition to Australia in January 1803 after one of the following persons - Louis Victor de Rochechouart de Mortemart (1636-1688), a Marshal of France or Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet (1588-1665), a member of the French nobility.Two sources state that the bay was named by Nicolas Baudin while a third source states that Baudin himself did not visit the southern coast of Kangaroo Island and that it was explored by the "Casuarina" commanded by Louis de Freycinet and a fourth which states that the bay was named by François Péron and Freycinet.Vivonne Bay is recognised as having a significant undertow and at times a sizeable swell, and is therefore suited only to experienced swimmers.