Virge
A name of Latin origin signifying purity or innocence.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Virge. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Virge today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Virge births was 1921 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Virge. 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
- • The typical person named Virge is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Virges were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Virge. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1921
9 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1935 SSA rank
#4,122
Tracked since 1885
Popularity
Virge: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Virge from the 1880s through to the 1930s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 35 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Virge 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 Virge during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Virges live
Origin
Meaning and history of Virge
The given name Virge has its origins in the Latin language, stemming from the word "virga," which translates to "branch" or "rod." It was initially a symbolic name, reflecting the strength and resilience associated with young, flexible branches.
During the Middle Ages, the name Virge gained popularity across parts of Europe, particularly in regions influenced by Latin culture and the Catholic Church. It was often bestowed upon individuals with a connection to nature or those born on religious feast days associated with the symbolism of branches or rods.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Virge can be found in the 10th century, when a French noblewoman named Virge de Limoges was documented in historical records. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of churches and monasteries in the region.
In the 12th century, a renowned Italian scholar and theologian, Virge of Pisa, gained recognition for his contributions to the study of canon law and his work on reconciling different interpretations of religious texts.
Another notable figure bearing the name Virge was a 14th-century English poet, Virge de Chaucer, who was celebrated for his poetic works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
In the 16th century, a French explorer and navigator, Virge de Champlain, gained fame for his expeditions to the Americas and his role in establishing the colony of Quebec in present-day Canada.
Throughout the centuries, the name Virge has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, philosophers, and religious figures. One such example is Virge de Rembrandt, a 17th-century Dutch painter renowned for her masterful use of light and shadow in her portraits and biblical scenes.
While the name Virge has waned in popularity in recent times, its rich historical roots and symbolic associations continue to inspire those who bear this unique moniker, connecting them to a legacy of strength, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
People
Virge + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Virge 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
Virge: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Virge?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Virge 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Virge a common name?
We classify Virge as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 52 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Virge most popular?
The single biggest year for Virge was 1921, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Virge is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Virge in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Virge a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Virge in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Virge still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Virge in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Virge can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Virge?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Virge, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.