Veronice
A feminine name derived from Berenice, of uncertain etymology, possibly meaning "bringer of victory".
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Veronice. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Veronice today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Veronice births was 1987 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Veronice. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Veronice. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
1987
6 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1989 SSA rank
#14,476
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Veronice: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Veronice from the 1960s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 11 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
Veronice 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 Veronice during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Veronice
The name Veronice has its origins in the Latin language and can be traced back to the ancient Roman era. It is a feminine form derived from the Latin word "vera," meaning "true," and the suffix "-nice," which denotes victory or triumph. This combination suggests a meaning along the lines of "true victory" or "she who triumphs in truth."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Veronice can be found in the apocryphal story of the woman who wiped Jesus Christ's face with a cloth, known as the Veil of Veronica. This legend, which emerged during the Middle Ages, associates the name with the concept of depicting or bearing an image, particularly that of Christ's face.
In the 4th century, there was a renowned Christian martyr named Saint Veronica, who was venerated for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution. Her story and martyrdom contributed to the popularity of the name among early Christian communities.
During the Renaissance, the name Veronice gained prominence in Italy, particularly in artistic circles. One of the most famous bearers of the name was the Venetian artist Veronique Franco (1546-1591), who was renowned for her exceptional talent as a painter and her unconventional lifestyle as an independent woman in a male-dominated society.
Another notable figure was Veronica Gambara (1485-1550), an Italian Renaissance poet and scholar who was highly respected for her literary accomplishments and intellectual prowess. Her work showcased her profound understanding of classical literature and philosophy.
In the 17th century, the name Veronice was associated with the French noblewoman Veronica Cybo (1624-1711), who was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio. She played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of her time, and her patronage of the arts left a lasting impact on the region.
As the name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings and adaptations, such as Veronica, Veronika, and Véronique, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of different regions.
People
Veronice + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Veronice 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
Veronice: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Veronice?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Veronice 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Veronice a common name?
We classify Veronice as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Veronice most popular?
The single biggest year for Veronice was 1987, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Veronice is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Veronice a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Veronice 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.