Find out how popular the first name Violet has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Violet by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Violet is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Violet being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6,342 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Violet.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Violet in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Violet

The name Violet has its origins in the Latin word "viola", which means the violet flower. The name likely came into use during the late Middle Ages or Renaissance period in Western Europe, as the rise of botanicals and nature names became more popular.

Violet was initially a feminine given name inspired by the delicate purple flower. The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to the 16th century in England. One of the first notable individuals named Violet was Violet Beauchamp (1693-1719), an English aristocrat and relative of Oliver Cromwell.

In literature, the name appears in Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, where a character named Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario. This play, written around 1601, likely helped popularize the name Violet in England during the Elizabethan era.

During the 19th century, the name gained wider usage across Europe and North America. Some historical figures named Violet include Violet Trefusis (1894-1972), an English writer and mistress of Vita Sackville-West, and Violet Jessop (1887-1971), an Argentine-British ocean liner stewardess who survived the sinkings of the Titanic and Britannic.

In the United States, one of the earliest prominent individuals named Violet was Violet Oakley (1874-1961), an American artist and writer known for her murals in the Pennsylvania State Capitol building. Another notable Violet was Violet Sommers (1890-1975), an American actress and vaudeville performer during the early 20th century.

The name Violet also has connections to royalty. Violet Constance Jessie (1876-1962) was a member of the British royal family, being a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Additionally, Princess Violette of Bavaria (1891-1936) was a member of the Bavarian royal family and a philanthropist.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Violet was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Violet, please contact us.

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