Virginia first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Virginia

A feminine given name of Latin origin meaning "virgin maiden".

Popularity of Virginia by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 535 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Virginia.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 535
2022 0 569
2021 0 561
2020 0 505
2019 0 574
2018 0 586
2017 0 611
2016 0 604
2015 0 600
2014 0 523
2013 0 539
2012 0 508
2011 0 507
2010 0 489
2009 0 492
2008 0 549
2007 0 572
2006 0 605
2005 0 681
2004 0 697
2003 0 742
2002 0 801
2001 0 753
2000 0 811
1999 0 824
1998 0 797
1997 0 775
1996 0 986
1995 0 905
1994 0 923
1993 0 1,041
1992 0 1,089
1991 6 1,191
1990 8 1,335
1989 10 1,266
1988 10 1,293
1987 10 1,246
1986 0 1,367
1985 10 1,379
1984 8 1,465
1983 8 1,679
1982 9 1,761
1981 9 1,802
1980 11 1,738
1979 5 1,657
1978 14 1,652
1977 8 1,598
1976 6 1,616
1975 5 1,733
1974 0 1,711

The history of the first name Virginia

The name Virginia originated from the ancient Roman era. It is derived from the Latin word "virgo" meaning "virgin" or "maiden." The name was initially a title given to the Vestal Virgins, the priestesses of the Roman goddess Vesta, who were sworn to chastity.

During the Roman Empire, Virginia was a common name among Roman women, particularly those from aristocratic families. One of the earliest known references to the name Virginia is found in Livy's history of Rome, where he recounts the story of Virginia, a young woman whose tragic death at the hands of a corrupt official sparked a revolt against the Decemviri in 449 BC.

As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name Virginia became associated with the concept of virginity and purity. It was adopted by many early Christian women who chose to remain unmarried and dedicated their lives to religious service.

In the Middle Ages, the name Virginia gained popularity among European nobility, particularly in Italy and France. One notable figure was Saint Virginia Bracchi (c. 1278-1309), an Italian nun and mystic who was canonized by the Catholic Church.

During the Renaissance, the name Virginia was revived and gained renewed popularity. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), the renowned English novelist and essayist, who was a pioneering figure in the modernist literary movement.

Another notable Virginia was Virginia Dare (born 1587), the first English child born in the Americas. She was born to colonists who settled on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. However, Virginia Dare and the entire Roanoke Colony mysteriously vanished, leaving her fate unknown.

In the 19th century, the name Virginia was particularly popular in the United States, where it was associated with the state of Virginia. One famous bearer of the name was Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (1822-1847), the wife of the renowned American writer Edgar Allan Poe.

Other notable individuals named Virginia throughout history include Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione (1837-1899), an Italian aristocrat and celebrated beauty; Virginia Woolf's sister, the painter Virginia Stephen (1882-1941); and Virginia Hall (1906-1982), an American spy who played a crucial role in the French Resistance during World War II.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Virginia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/virginia-meaning-and-history/.

"Virginia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/virginia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Virginia first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/virginia-meaning-and-history/.

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