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

Popularity of Virgil by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Virgil is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Virgil being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 122 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Virgil.

The history of the first name Virgil

The name Virgil is derived from the ancient Roman name Vergilius, which is believed to have originated from the Latin word "virga," meaning a young shoot or twig. This suggests that the name may have been associated with fertility, growth, or vitality in its early origins.

The name Virgil gained widespread recognition and popularity due to the renowned Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro, better known as Virgil, who lived from 70 BC to 19 BC. He is best known for his epic works, the Aeneid, Eclogues, and Georgics, which have been celebrated as some of the greatest poetic masterpieces of ancient Rome.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, Virgil's literary works were widely studied and revered, and his name became closely associated with the classical tradition and the revival of ancient Roman culture. Many scholars and writers during this time adopted the name Virgil as a tribute to the great poet.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Virgil can be found in the works of the 4th-century Roman grammarian Aelius Donatus, who wrote a commentary on Virgil's works. Another notable figure named Virgil was Virgil of Salzburg, an 8th-century Irish missionary and scholar who helped spread Christianity in present-day Austria and Bavaria.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Virgil. These include the English explorer Virgil Prittie (1600-1668), who was one of the first English settlers in Virginia; the American architect Virgil Ivan Grissom (1904-1959), who designed the Nebraska State Capitol building; and the American writer Virgil Thomson (1896-1989), known for his works on music criticism and his opera librettos.

Other famous individuals named Virgil include the American astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom (1926-1967), one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a member of the ill-fated Apollo 1 crew; and the American artist Virgil Williams (1830-1886), known for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from the American West.

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 Virgil was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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