Viola
Viola is a girls' name of Latin origin meaning “violet, the flower.” The Latin word for the violet, used as a name.
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how do you pronounce Viola?
vy-OH-luh
where does the name Viola come from?
From the Latin viola, the violet, a name given in reference to the flower.
In the English-speaking world it is best known from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, whose heroine Viola survives a shipwreck and disguises herself as a man.
how popular is this name?
Viola has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 93 years since 1880. It peaked at #42 in 1908, and ranked #949 in 1972.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1972 | #949 |
| 1971 | #976 |
| 1970 | #880 |
| 1969 | #892 |
| 1968 | #783 |
| 1967 | #678 |
| 1966 | #680 |
| 1965 | #616 |
| 1964 | #575 |
| 1963 | #554 |
| 1960 | #472 |
| 1950 | #311 |
| 1940 | #190 |
| 1930 | #116 |
| 1920 | #59 |
| 1910 | #48 |
| 1908 | #42 |
| 1900 | #49 |
| 1890 | #68 |
| 1880 | #94 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Viola fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Viola
Viola is the heroine of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written around 1601 to 1602, and the name is in common use in Italy. In the United States it was a top-100 name from 1880 to 1926, peaked at number 42 in 1908 and last appeared in the top 1,000 in 1972.
who are famous people named Viola?
- Viola Davis (actress)
- Viola Desmond (Canadian civil rights figure)
- Viola (Twelfth Night character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Viola?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Viola?
what names go well with Viola?
Sibling names that share Viola's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Viola
What does the name Viola mean?
Viola means “violet, the flower”.
What is the origin of the name Viola?
Viola comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Violet, Violetta, Violeta and Violette.
How popular is the name Viola?
Viola ranked #949 in the US in 1972, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1908, at #42, and it has spent 93 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Viola a boy or girl name?
Viola is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Viola?
Viola is pronounced vy-OH-luh, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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