Verity
Feminine form of the Latin name "veritas" meaning truth or honesty.
Name Census estimates that about 1,680 living Americans carry the first name Verity. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Verity today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Verity births was 2020 (129 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Verity. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Verity is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 14 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.7K
~ 1 in 204,020 Americans
Peak year
2020
129 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,875
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Verity: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Verity from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 684 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Verity by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Verity during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Veritys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 22 states and territories. California, Texas, Ohio recorded the most babies named Verity, while Utah, Tennessee, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Verity
The name Verity is derived from the Latin word "veritas", meaning truth or reality. It originated as a virtue name during the Middle Ages in England, around the 13th century. The name was likely used to represent the ideals of honesty and truthfulness, which were highly valued during that time.
Verity gained popularity in medieval England, particularly among the upper classes. It was often associated with the concept of truth and virtue, reflecting the religious and moral values of the era. The name was sometimes used in literary works and religious texts as a personification of truth.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Verity can be found in the 14th century poem "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, written between 1387 and 1400. In the poem, Chaucer refers to "Verity" as a representation of truth.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Verity. One of the earliest was Verity Browne (c. 1490-1558), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions for her religious beliefs.
Another notable figure was Verity Rendell (1726-1804), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations and schools for the underprivileged in London.
In the 19th century, Verity Lambert (1935-2007) was a renowned English television producer and playwright. She was the first female producer for the iconic British series "Doctor Who" and played a significant role in shaping the show's early success.
Verity Wingate (1918-2007) was a British intelligence officer who served during World War II. She was awarded the Military Cross for her bravery and contributions to the war effort.
Verity Jones (1925-2019) was a Welsh painter and sculptor known for her abstract expressionist works. She was a prominent figure in the British art scene and had several solo exhibitions throughout her career.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Verity throughout history, reflecting its association with truth, virtue, and strength of character.
People
Verity + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Verity as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Verity: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Verity?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,680 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Verity going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 204,020 US residents.
Is Verity a common name?
We classify Verity as "Rare". It ranks above 93% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,706 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Verity most popular?
The single biggest year for Verity was 2020, when 129 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Verity is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Verity a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Verity in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.