Girl names that start with V run from Roman goddesses to Norse warriors, and a handful of them are having a real moment. Violet ranked 13th among U.S. girls in 2025 on 7,546 births, the highest it has ever placed, and Valentina, Victoria, and Vivian all sit inside the top 100 (1).
The 100 V names below cover the whole range, from those household picks to names the federal birth count has never once listed. Each entry gives the origin, meaning, pronunciation, spelling variations where they exist, and where the name actually stands in the latest U.S. data.
“V is subtler and it tends to lend a sophistication to the name,” says Laura Wattenberg, creator of Namerology and author of The Baby Name Wizard. That pull toward distinctive letters shows up across this list, from soft classics like Vivian to word names like Valkyrie.
Skim for sound or read for meaning. Either way you should leave with a shortlist for your baby girl.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Violet, Valentina, Victoria, Vivian and Valeria.
100 Cool Female Names That Start with V
Find the best girl names that start with V with the highest value for the baby girl you love.
Vada
Vada traces back to the German Valda, where it carries the sense of knowledge and rule. Sanskrit gives it a second reading, holy wisdom. Some accounts also tie it to the snow-capped mountains behind the name of Nevada. It is short, a little dusty in the best way, and easy for a toddler to say.
- Origin: German, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Famous ruler
- Pronunciation: VAAD-ah
- Variations: Veda
- Popularity: Ranked #886 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 302 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #394 in 1913. Births are up about 149% on the previous ten years.
Vaga
Vaga carries a bird of prey meaning in Arabic, read as falling vulture in one telling and sweeping eagle in another. Either way the image is a large bird cutting through open sky, an unusually specific meaning next to the softer names on this list.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Falling vulture
- Pronunciation: VAE-Gah
- Variations: Vega
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Valborga
Valborga is a German variation of Walburga, carrying the sense of a protecting ruler. U.S. birth records have never listed it, but the name survives as a place name too, a small settlement on the Sava River in Slovenia.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong protection
- Pronunciation: Vaal-BAOR-gah
- Variations: Valborg, Valborgah
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Vale
Vale began as an English surname for a family that lived in the vale, from the Middle English vale and ultimately the Latin vallis, meaning valley. Ireland still uses the form de Bhal. As a first name it stays quiet and unisex, one syllable that lands like a place you would want to walk through.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Farewell
- Pronunciation: VEYL
- Variations: Vail
- Namesakes: Vale P. Thielman, a South Dakota State Senate member from 1889 to 1890.
- Popularity: It sits at #8,323 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 13 girls named. Its best showing was #3,320 in 2016. That is roughly one in 125,000 girls.
Valentina
Valentina is the feminine of Valentine, both from the Roman Valentinus and the Latin valens, meaning strong. It is the rare long name that sounds soft and sturdy at once, and it shortens neatly to Val, Tina, or Nina. Parents expecting a February baby tend to land here first.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Healthy, strong
- Pronunciation: Vah-lehn-TIY-Naa
- Variations: Valenteana, Valenteena, Valentinah, Valentyna
- Namesakes: Valentina Blažević, a Croatian handball player for the Croatian national team. Valentina L. Garza, a Cuban-American screenwriter for The Simpsons.
- Popularity: Ranked #35 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 5,354 babies were given the name. That is the highest it has ever ranked. Births are up about 123% on the previous ten years.
Valeria
Valeria comes from the Latin valere, to be healthy or strong, by way of the Roman family name Valerius. It is the Spanish and Italian sister to Valerie, with a rounder, more lyrical ending. The name has appeared in U.S. birth records since 1881, so it reads as familiar rather than invented.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Strong
- Pronunciation: Vaa-LEY-riy-Ah
- Namesakes: Valeria Golino, an Italian actress known for Rain Man. Valeria Lyulyaeva, a Russian rower and European Rowing Champion in 1966.
- Popularity: 1,835 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #162 nationally. Its best showing was #72 in 2009. Births are down about 27% on the previous ten years.
Valery
Valery is traditionally a boy’s name based on the Latin “valere,” meaning “strong” and “powerful.” It can appear as Valéry in Russia, yet it’s also a badass name for modern little girls.
- Origin: Latin, Russian
- Meaning: Fierce ruler
- Pronunciation: Vaa-LAYEH-riy
- Variations: Vallerie, Vallery, Valorie
- Namesakes: Valery Kaufman, a Russian model who participated in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2016.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #744 in 2025, on 366 births. Its best showing was #716 in 2006. Births are up about 29% on the previous ten years.
Valeska
Valeska is a Slavic short form for names beginning with Val- or Vlad-, given the sense of a splendid or victorious leader. Maria Walewska, Napoleon Bonaparte’s companion, seems to have carried the sound into South America, where the spelling took hold. It has a crisp three-beat rhythm that suits a bold girl.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Ruling glory
- Pronunciation: Vaa-LEHS-kaa
- Variations: Valesca
- Namesakes: Valeska Stock, a German actress appearing in the 1927 film The Weavers. Valeska Menezes, a Brazilian volleyball player, and silver medalist at the 2003 FIVB Women’s World Cup.
- Popularity: It sits at #5,899 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 21 girls named. Its best showing was #2,091 in 1917. That is roughly one in 76,923 girls.
Valkyrie
Valkyrie joins the Old Norse valr, the slain, with kyrja, chooser. In Norse myth the Valkyries decided who fell in battle and carried those warriors to Valhalla. It is a big, cinematic choice, and Val or Kyrie handles the everyday. Of every name on this list, it has climbed the fastest over the last decade.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Chooser of the slain
- Pronunciation: VaeL-KIHR-iy
- Variations: Valkrey, Valkrie
- Popularity: Ranked #1,925 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 101 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #1,455 in 2022. Births are up about 436% on the previous ten years.
Vallia
Vallia works for either a boy or a girl, and its Latin root points to vigor and power. The Greek reading shifts the meaning toward royalty, since Valia serves as the female form of Basil and carries the sense of queen.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Vigorous
- Pronunciation: VAO-liy-Ah
- Variations: Vallie
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Valma
Valma is one of the many short forms of Vilhelmina, and it doubles as a variant of Vilma. Finnish usage gives it the prettier reading of twinflower. There is also a village called Valma in Estonia.
- Origin: German, Finnish
- Meaning: Protector
- Pronunciation: VAHLM-ah
- Variations: Vilma
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #6,735 in 1964 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #1,915 in 1919.
Vandalia
Vandalia’s meaning stays murky. Most accounts trace it to the Germanic Vandal tribe, while others link it to a Dutch surname or a 19th century Indian tribe. The name also had a brief life as a proposed British colony: 18th century investors wanted to plant Vandalia in the Ohio Valley across two and a half million acres.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Of the Vandals
- Pronunciation: Vaen-DAHL-iy-Ah
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #5,202 in 1930 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vanesha
Vanesha is a Greek spelling variation of Vanessa, keeping the same butterfly meaning. Sanskrit gives it an entirely different, grander reading, queen of the universe.
- Origin: Greek, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: Vah-NEHSH-ah
- Variations: Vanessa, Vaneshia
- Namesakes: Vanesha Priscilla, an Indonesian actress appearing in Backstage (2021).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #12,001 in 2001 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #4,342 in 1982.
Vanessa
Vanessa was invented by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for a poem in 1712, built loosely on the Greek Phanessa. It has since softened into an everyday classic, with Nessa and Van as the natural nicknames.
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: Vaa-NESS-ah
- Variations: Vannesa, Vannessa, Vanesa
- Namesakes: Vanessa Bayer, an American actress and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2017. Vanessa Williams, an American singer and the first African-American Miss America in 1984.
- Popularity: 813 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #377 nationally. Its best showing was #41 in 1988. Births are down about 55% on the previous ten years.
Vanetta
Vanetta softens Vanessa into a prettier three syllable shape while keeping the butterfly meaning. A separate Cambodian reading, golden, attaches to it as a form of Vanna, which makes it more distinct than most Vanessa spinoffs.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: Vaa-NEHT-taa
- Variations: Venetta
- Namesakes: Vanetta Smith, an American actress appearing in Freedom Writers (2007).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #16,494 in 1998 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #1,857 in 1962.
Vanille
Vanille stays rare in the U.S. and reads exactly like it looks, the French word for vanilla. It comes from the French “vaina,” meaning pod, the same image behind the golden vanilla bean ice cream the word now calls to mind.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Vanilla
- Pronunciation: Vah-NEE-yuh
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #17,501 in 2021 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #16,718 in 2012.
Vanita
Vanita carries two close but distinct meanings depending on the language, woman or graceful lady in Hindi, and desired or wished for in Sanskrit. Both readings land on the same warm, complimentary territory.
- Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
- Meaning: Wished for
- Pronunciation: Vaa-NIY-taa
- Variations: Vinita
- Namesakes: Vanita Gupta, the U.S. Attorney General since 2021. Vanita Smythe, an American Jazz singer/actress appearing in Low, Short, and Squatty (1946).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #18,299 in 2003 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #1,291 in 1932.
Vanity
Vanity is a term used to describe “excessive pride” and “self-admiration.” The “inflation of pride” should not scare you, since it makes an edgy, yet elegant female middle name.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Empty or inflated in pride
- Pronunciation: VAE-nah-Tiy
- Variations: Vanitey, Vaniti, Vanitie, Vanytie, Vanyty
- Namesakes: Denise Matthews (known as Vanity), a Canadian singer in Vanity 6, a pop group created by Prince.
- Popularity: 13 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #8,326 nationally. Its best showing was #1,268 in 1988. That is roughly one in 125,000 girls.
Vanja
Vanja is the South Slavic, particularly Croatian, spelling of the Russian Vanya, once used as a nickname for Iva. Like Ivan or John, it carries the meaning God is gracious.
- Origin: Croatian, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: VAEN-Yaa
- Variations: Vania, Vanya
- Namesakes: Vanja Gesheva-Tsvetkova, a Bulgarian sprint canoer and gold medalist at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Vanja Ejdus, a Serbian actress appearing in Wait for Me and I Will Not Come (2009).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #18,301 in 2003 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vanya
Vanya is the Russian pet form of Ivan, which traces to John and the sense that God is gracious. In Bulgaria it belongs to girls; elsewhere it leans male. The Latin reading of it is one who brings good news. Two syllables, no spelling trouble, and a soft ending that fits a modern shortlist.
- Origin: Slavic, Russian
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: VAEN-Yaa
- Variations: Vania, Vanja
- Namesakes: Vanya Marinova, a Bulgarian gymnast who competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Vanya Petkova, a Bulgarian poet and cultural envoy in Cuba from 1974 to 1978.
- Popularity: It sits at #2,408 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 75 girls named. Its best showing was #2,194 in 2020. Births are up about 148% on the previous ten years.
Varda
Varda stays lesser known among V names for girls. In Hindi it can point to a river or serve as another name for the goddess Lakshmi, while Hebrew gives it an unrelated meaning, rose.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Giver of boons
- Pronunciation: VARD-ah
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #7,264 in 1960 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Varena
Varena traces to the Latin “verus,” true, putting it in the same family as Vera and veritas. The Lithuanian city Varėna shares the spelling, though not necessarily the origin.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: True
- Pronunciation: Vah-REYN-ah
- Variations: Vareena, Varyna, Verena
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #3,941 in 1923 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Varenka
Varenka is a particularly Russian form of Varvara, the Greek equivalent for Barbara. It means “foreign woman” and is uncommon outside Russia and its surrounding counties today.
- Origin: Russian, Greek
- Meaning: Stranger
- Pronunciation: Vaa-REHNG-kah
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Varinia
Varinia reaches back to the Roman family name Varinius, itself drawn from Varius, and lands on the meaning versatile. It shows up rarely today, mostly as the Slavic surname Varina.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Versatile
- Pronunciation: Vah-RIYN-iy-Ah
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #8,284 in 1971 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #5,826 in 1962.
Vashti
Vashti comes from the Persian vaisti, read as goodness or excellent. She appears in the Bible as the first wife of King Ahasuerus. The ending is unusual for a girl’s name in English, which is exactly what makes it stick.
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Lovely
- Pronunciation: VAESH-Tiy
- Variations: Vashtee, Vashtey, Vashtie, Vashty
- Namesakes: Vashti Cunningham, an American track and field athlete who competed at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Vashti Bartlett, an American nurse with the American Red Cross during World War I.
- Popularity: Ranked #8,823 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 12 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #1,223 in 1913. That is roughly one in 142,857 girls.
Vasilisa
Vasilisa is the feminine of Vasily, the Russian form of Basil, so the meaning lands on empress. Russian folklore gives it Vasilisa the Wise, the heroine who solves what nobody else can. It is a long name that stays graceful, with Vasya and Lisa waiting inside it.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Queen
- Pronunciation: Vae-SIHL-iy-Sah
- Variations: Vasilica
- Namesakes: Vasilisa Volodina, a Russian TV host for Let’s Get Married since 2008. Vasilisa Davankova, a Russian ice dancer and the 2012 World Junior bronze medalist.
- Popularity: 17 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #6,812 nationally. Its best showing was #4,627 in 2016. That is roughly one in 90,909 girls.
Vaughn
Vaughn began as a Welsh surname from bychan, a diminutive of bach, meaning little. It moved into first-name use the way surnames usually do, and it still leans male in the United States. On a girl it reads modern and understated.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Small
- Pronunciation: VAON
- Variations: Vaughan
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #1,153 in 2025, on 183 births. Its best showing was #348 in 1949.
Vava
Vava works as an affectionate nickname for the Hindi Varvara, which itself traces to the Greek Barbara and its foreign woman meaning. As an unrelated Old English surname, Vava has also carried the sense of defender of the house.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Cute, beautiful
- Pronunciation: VAH-vah
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #3,583 in 1914, the best rank it has ever posted.
Vedangi
Vedangi originates in Sanskrit and Marathi and is described as “a part of Vedas.” In Hinduism, the Vedas were a collection of religious poems and hymns connected to this Indian girl’s name.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: A part of Vedas
- Pronunciation: Vey-DAENG-iy
- Namesakes: Vedangi Kulkarni, an Indian endurance cyclist and the youngest woman to cycle the globe in 2018.
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Vega
Vega shares its swooping eagle meaning with Vada, and Scandinavian tradition adds a second image, falling star. As a Spanish surname, the word means something calmer, a dweller in the meadow, or one who lives on the plain.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Swooping eagle
- Pronunciation: VEY-Gaa
- Variations: Vegah, Vada
- Namesakes: Vega Tamotia, an Indian actress in the film Pasanga. Mercedes Carpio (known as Vega), a Spanish singer-songwriter whose album Metamorfosis came out in 2009.
- Popularity: 31 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #4,539 nationally. Its best showing was #3,128 in 2019. That is roughly one in 52,632 girls.
Velda
Velda comes from the German element behind Wald, read as power or rule, and it is sometimes given the sense of battle heroine. It is a vintage American name with a firm start and a soft finish. Vel makes an easy nickname when the full version feels formal.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Power, rule
- Pronunciation: VEHL-Dah
- Variations: Valda
- Namesakes: Velda Johnston, an American romance writer known for A Howling in the Woods. Velda González, a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1981 to 2005.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #17,351 in 2020 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #474 in 1914.
Velika
Velika is a Slavic word meaning everything from “great” and “wondrous” to “wonderful.” Also used for anything “large,” Velika appears in multiple place names in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Great
- Pronunciation: VEH-liy-Kah
- Variations: Velicca, Velicka, Velikah, Velyka
- Namesakes: Velika Begovica, a Serbian rebel in modern-day North Macedonia during the Serbo-Turkish War (1876 to 78).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #12,099 in 1980 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vella
Vella is an Italian turn on Bella, possibly clipped from Avella or Abella, and it keeps the meaning of beautiful. Swapping the B for a V makes a well-worn name feel unfamiliar again. It sits well in front of a longer surname.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Pronunciation: VEH-Lah
- Variations: Velia
- Popularity: Ranked #4,977 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 27 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #914 in 1915. That is roughly one in 58,824 girls.
Velva
Velva ties directly to velvet, one of the softest fabrics, though an older reading of the word gives it the sense of shaggy. Velva, North Dakota, took its name from the same velvet-like image, describing the town’s countryside.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Velvet
- Pronunciation: VEHL-Vah
- Namesakes: Velva Darnell, an American country singer known for It Keeps Slipping My Mind (1966).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #8,991 in 1983 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #521 in 1913.
Velvet
Velvet is a fabric name, and the plushest of them: it carries the whole association of royalty and deep color. The band the Velvet Underground and the video game character in Odin Sphere both keep it in circulation. This one suits a family that wants texture in a name rather than history.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Soft fabric
- Pronunciation: VEHL-vet
- Variations: Velvete, Velvett, Velvette, Velvit, Velvyt
- Namesakes: Jenny Pettersson (known as Velvet), a Swedish dance-pop singer with eight singles in the top 20 of the Swedish Singles Chart.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #8,824 in 2025, on 12 births. Its best showing was #542 in 1961. That is roughly one in 142,857 girls.
Venecia
Venecia is the Spanish spelling of Venice, the Italian city of canals. A town in Colombia carries the same name, and parents drawn to it often lean on its resemblance to Venus, the goddess of beauty, rather than the city itself.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: From Venice
- Pronunciation: Veh-NIY-Shah
- Variations: Venezia, Venetia
- Popularity: It sits at #10,063 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 10 girls named. Its best showing was #3,911 in 1960. That is roughly one in 166,667 girls.
Venetta
Venetta sits among the many Greek girl names built on Vanessa, sharing its butterfly meaning. The Latin side of the name adds two more readings, love and happiness.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: Veh-NEHT-ah
- Variations: Venetia
- Namesakes: Venetta Fields, an American singer who toured with artists in the 1970s like Ike & Tina Turner.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #12,770 in 1986 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #2,017 in 1927.
Venice
Venice is the English name of the Italian city built on water, home to the pre-Roman Veneti and capital of its own republic from 697 to 1797. As a first name it is unisex and travel-flavored, in the same family as Florence and Siena. Most parents use it whole rather than shortening it.
- Origin: Italian, Latin
- Meaning: City of Venice
- Pronunciation: VEHN-ihs
- Variations: Veniece
- Popularity: 24 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #5,389 nationally. Its best showing was #941 in 1921. That is roughly one in 66,667 girls.
Venna
Venna specifically means “butterfly of the lily” and is a Greek nickname for Vanessa. It’s also based on the “veena,” an Indian string instrument depicted with Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of arts and learning.
- Origin: Greek, Indian
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Pronunciation: VEHN-Ah
- Variations: Vennah
- Namesakes: Venna Melinda, an Indonesian singer known for the album The Other Side of Me.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #10,857 in 2025, on 9 births. Its best showing was #2,043 in 1915. That is roughly one in 166,667 girls.
Venus
Venus means the loved one in Latin, though the Roman goddess of love does most of the work. The planet keeps the name in every child’s science lesson. It is bold, it is short, and it has never needed a nickname.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Goddess of love
- Pronunciation: VEE-Nahs
- Variations: Venys, Vynys
- Namesakes: Venus Faiq, an Iraqi-Kurdish-Dutch poet who writes in Kurdish and Arabic languages. Venus Raj, a Filipino actress crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010.
- Popularity: It sits at #2,001 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 96 girls named. Its best showing was #570 in 1959. Births are up about 79% on the previous ten years.
Vera
Vera reads two ways at once: the Latin verus, true, and the Slavic word for faith. It was an ordinary American name a century ago and never disappeared in Slavic-speaking families. Four letters, one clear sound, no spelling explanations.
- Origin: Slavic, Latin
- Meaning: Faith
- Pronunciation: VIY-rah
- Variations: Veira, Verah, Verra, Vyra
- Namesakes: Vera Dua, the Party Chair of the Flemish green party Groen! between 2003 and 2007. Vera Farmiga, a Ukrainian-American actress known for Up in the Air (2009).
- Popularity: Ranked #205 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 1,482 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #65 in 1915. Births are up about 166% on the previous ten years.
Verbena
Verbena traces to a set of plants the Romans considered sacred, among them olive, laurel, and myrtle. Today the word names a lemon scented flower, and the name itself appeared as a character in the 1961 film The Parent Trap.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Holy plants
- Pronunciation: Ver-BIY-nah
- Variations: Verbeena, Verbina, Verbyna
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #18,945 in 2015 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #3,166 in 1938.
Verge
Verge comes from the Middle English word for a rod or measure of land, and French usage can give it the sense of a unit of land too. As a surname it marked someone from Verridge Wood in Sussex, or someone who held about four acres. A related boy’s name, Verge, ties back to Virgil.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Half-acre
- Pronunciation: VERJH
- Variations: Virge
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #3,805 in 1923, the best rank it has ever posted.
Verity
Verity is a Puritan virtue name from the Latin veritas, truth, and it is far less worn than Faith, Grace, or Hope. Victorian England liked it. American parents are only now catching up, and Vera sits inside it for anyone who wants something shorter.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: VEH-rih-Tiy
- Variations: Veretie, Verety, Veritie
- Namesakes: Verity Firth, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2011. Verity Rushworth, an English actress appearing in the soap opera Emmerdale from 1998 to 2009.
- Popularity: It sits at #1,482 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 145 girls named. That is the highest it has ever ranked. Births are up about 174% on the previous ten years.
Verly
Verly also means “meadow” and is a special nickname for those named Everly or Beverly. Verly is also a surname for someone from a “beaver meadow.”
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Beaver stream
- Pronunciation: VEHR-liy
- Variations: Verily
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #5,572 in 1926 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vermont
Vermont is made up of the French “vert,” meaning “green,” and “mont,” meaning “mountain.” It’s the name of the U.S. state of Vermont, also called the “Green Mountain State.” Vermont’s name was inspired by the Green Mountain Boys, who defended against the British in the American Revolution.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Green mountain
- Pronunciation: Vehr-MAANT
- Variations: Vermonte
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #3,001 in 1922, the best rank it has ever posted.
Verna
Verna comes from the Latin vernus, of the spring, the same root behind the vernal equinox. It has served as a short form of Laverne and as the feminine of Vernon. The sound is warm and midcentury, the kind of name a great-grandmother had.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Springtime
- Pronunciation: VEHRN-ah
- Namesakes: Verna Aardema, an American children’s book writer known for the Tales from the Story Hat series (1960). Verna Bloom, an American actress appearing in Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983).
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #3,513 in 2025, on 44 births. Its best showing was #124 in 1917. That is roughly one in 37,037 girls.
Vernice
Vernice carries a victory bringer meaning in the Islamic faith, and much of its identity draws from Veronica, the woman said to have defended Jesus before Pontius Pilate, though she never appears by name in the Bible.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: Ver-NIYZ
- Variations: Vyrenese, Verenese
- Namesakes: Vernice Armour, a U.S. Marine Corps officer and the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marines.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #19,427 in 2011 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #453 in 1919.
Verochka
Verochka is one of several Slavic versions of Veronica and is a Russian diminutive of Vera. Many Slavic diminutives appear longer than the original name to mean “darling” or “beloved.” Verochka also means “faith” and is the name of a short story by Russian playwright Anton Chekov.
- Origin: Slavic, Latin
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: Vaa-RAHCH-Kah
- Variations: Veroushka
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Verona
Verona belongs to the Italian city where Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The name itself is read as true, or honest image. It has the ease of Vera with a longer, more romantic tail.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: The truthful
- Pronunciation: Vah-ROW-naa
- Variations: Verone
- Namesakes: Verona Pooth, a German model, and the 1993 Miss Germany. Verona Rose, an English TV presenter of the series Secret Crush.
- Popularity: 25 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #5,227 nationally. Its best showing was #600 in 1914. That is roughly one in 62,500 girls.
Veronica
Veronica joins the Latin “verus,” true, with “iconicus,” of an image, giving the phrase “vera icon,” true image. Tradition attaches it to a non-official biblical figure said to have received Christ’s image on a cloth. The name has stayed in circulation through comics, film, and a hundred years of American birth certificates. Ronnie, Nica, and Vee are all fair game.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: True image
- Pronunciation: Vah-RAAN-ih-Kah
- Variations: Veronicah, Veronicca, Veronicka, Veronika, Veronnica
- Namesakes: Veronica Pyke, an Australian cricketer for Hobart Hurricanes. Verónica Zondek, a Chilean poet awarded for “Poetic Career” in 2017 by the Pablo Neruda Foundation.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #427 in 2025, on 730 births. Its best showing was #68 in 1976.
Veronique
Veronique is the French Veronica, built from the Latin vera and the Greek eikon. It also carries the Greek sense of bringing victory. The accent usually drops in the United States, though Veronique keeps it at home in France.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: True image
- Pronunciation: Veh-raan-IYK
- Variations: Veronick, Veronice
- Namesakes: Veronique Branquinho, a Belgian fashion designer who founded Veronique Branquinho in 1998. Véronique Vendell, a French actress appearing in Cross of Iron (1977).
- Popularity: It sits at #10,064 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 10 girls named. Its best showing was #1,471 in 1972. That is roughly one in 166,667 girls.
Veruca
Though Veruca means “wort,” it’s better known as the name of a Roald Dahl character in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Veruca Salt is an admittedly spoiled little girl and a TV character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Wart
- Pronunciation: Veh-RUW-kah
- Variations: Verruca
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #18,708 in 2016 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Verushka
Verushka is a Slavic, often Russian, diminutive of Veronica based on the Latin Vera, meaning “faith.” Veruca Salt, a character in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, had a father who called her Verushka.
- Origin: Slavic, Russian
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: Veh-RUWSH-kah
- Variations: Veruschka, Veruska
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Veselka
Veselka is a mostly Czech nickname meaning “cheerful,” deriving from “veselý.” It can refer to a man who can’t find a bride and is the Ukrainian word for “rainbow.” The Ukrainian Veselka is also the name of a famous New York City restaurant.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Someone who is happy
- Pronunciation: Vah-SEHLK-ah
- Namesakes: Veselka Pevec, a Slovenian Paralympic sport shooter and gold medalist at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Vesna
Vesna is an ancient Slavic goddess of spring and originally meant “messenger.” It’s only appeared among female names that start with V since the 20th-century.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Spring
- Pronunciation: VEZ-nah
- Variations: Vesnaa, Vesnah, Vesnia, Vezna
- Namesakes: Vesna Krmpotic, a Croatian writer awarded the Vladimir Nazor Award in 1999. Vesna Rožič, a Slovenian chess player given the FIDE title of Woman International Master in 2006.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #17,536 in 2024 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #4,217 in 1968.
Vesper
Vesper is the Latin word for evening, and for the evening star that arrives with it. Catholic vespers are the prayers sung at that hour. The Italian vespa, wasp, sits nearby and gives the name a little sting. It has moved from obscure to quietly fashionable over the last ten years.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the evening
- Pronunciation: VEHS-Per
- Popularity: Ranked #2,482 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 72 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #2,267 in 2023. Births are up about 93% on the previous ten years.
Vesta
Vesta was the Roman goddess of the hearth, the Greek Hestia under another name, and her fire stood for the household itself. The name is short, ancient, and unfussy. It has been out of use long enough to sound new again.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Pure
- Pronunciation: VEHS-Tah
- Variations: Vestah
- Namesakes: Vesta Williams, an American singer with six Top 10 hits on the Billboard R&B chart in the 1980s and 1990s. Marina Oliver (pseudonym Vesta Hathaway), a romance writer and Chairman of the Romantic Novelists’ Association from 1992 to 1993.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #17,537 in 2024 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #408 in 1918.
Viatrix
Viatrix comes from the Latin “viator,” a traveler or wayfarer, with the feminine ending marking it as the woman’s form. Viatrix is the older form behind Beatrix, and so behind Beatrice, the name it eventually became.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Voyager
- Pronunciation: VIY-ah-Triks
- Variations: Beatrix
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Vibeke
Vibeke is a Danish spelling of Wiebke, which was used for German names beginning with “wig-.” It means “warrior” in German, but in Danish, it’s one of the cutest girl names with V.
- Origin: Scandinavian, German
- Meaning: Little woman
- Pronunciation: VIY-beh-Kah
- Namesakes: Vibeke Løkkeberg, a Norwegian film actress appearing in Hud (1986). Vibeke von Sperling, a Danish journalist and Editor-in-Chief at Dagbladet Information newspaper in 1983.
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Vibha
The Sanskrit “vibhā” means “bright” and is another name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. It appears in the various Hindu epics and also means ” night,” “the moon,” “beauty,” and “radiance,” to boot.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Shining
- Pronunciation: VIYB-hah
- Namesakes: Vibha Chibber, an Indian actress appearing in Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki. Vibha Sharma, an Indian singer known for the album Mehndi (2000).
- Popularity: Ranked #4,453 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 32 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #3,214 in 2022. That is roughly one in 50,000 girls.
Vibiana
Vibiana is another form of Vivian, meaning “alive.” It goes back to the Latin Vivianus and was a 3rd-century martyr and patron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Lively
- Pronunciation: Viyb-iy-AHN-Ah
- Variations: Viviana
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #17,972 in 2018 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #13,459 in 1996.
Vica
Vica is a nickname for Veronica, Victoria, and sometimes Eve. It’s also based on the Hebrew “ḥawwah,” meaning “to breathe or live.” In ancient Rome, Vica Pota was a goddess with a shrine on the Velian Hill.
- Origin: Hungarian, Hebrew
- Meaning: Life
- Pronunciation: VIY-Kaa
- Variations: Vika
- Namesakes: Éva “Vica” Kerekes, a Hungarian-Slovak actress and winner of the best actress award at the 2010 Hungarian Film Week.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #2,861 in 1914 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vickilyn
VIckilyn is a mostly Americanized combination of Vicky and Lynn. The Latin “victoria” means “victory,” while Lynn means “living near a lake, waterfall, or pool.”
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Victory pool
- Pronunciation: VIH-kiy-LIN
- Variations: VIckylyn
- Namesakes: Vickilyn Reynolds, an American actress known for the series Kate & Allie (1987).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #6,976 in 1957 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #6,592 in 1954.
Vicky
Vicky is the everyday short form of Victoria, itself the feminine of Victor. Roman mythology gave Victory her own goddess, and Queen Victoria gave the name its longest run. Some parents skip the formal version and put Vicky on the certificate outright.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Victorious
- Pronunciation: VIHK-iy
- Variations: Vickie, Vicki
- Namesakes: Vicky Darling, an Australian member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2012. Vasiliki “Vicky” Vanita, a Greek actress appearing in the film Thiella sto spiti ton anemon (1968).
- Popularity: Ranked #4,163 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 35 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #142 in 1957. That is roughly one in 45,455 girls.
Victoria
Victoria is the feminine of Victor and the name of the Roman goddess of victory. Queen Victoria’s long reign fixed it in English usage for good. It is formal on paper and flexible in practice, since Tori, Vicky, and Via all live inside it.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Victorious
- Pronunciation: Vihk-TOWR-iy-Ah
- Variations: Victorea, Victoreah, Victoriah, Vicktoria, Viktoria
- Namesakes: Queen Victoria, the queen of the UK, Great Britain, and Ireland from 1837 to 1901. Victoria Beckham, an English singer with the 1990s group the Spice Girls.
- Popularity: 4,027 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #54 nationally. Its best showing was #16 in 1998.
Vida
Vida is a 4-letter example of name for girls that start with V, that’s also a diminutive for Davida. It also means “much loved” in Greek and “dearly loved” in Hebrew. Vida is a lake in Antarctica, a town in Montana, and a village in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Life
- Pronunciation: VIY-Dah
- Variations: Veda, Vita
- Namesakes: Vida Petrović-Škero, the President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Serbia between 2005 and 2009. Vida Samadzai, an Afghan-American actress, and Miss Afghanistan in 2003.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #1,218 in 2025, on 187 births. Its best showing was #413 in 1914. Births are up about 70% on the previous ten years.
Vieda
Vieda is an offbeat yet fierce Spanish version of Vida, meaning “life,” similar to Vita. It’s also a diminutive of the Hebrew name Davida, meaning “beloved.”
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Life
- Pronunciation: Viy-EH-dah
- Variations: Vida
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #5,822 in 1921 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vienna
Vienna traces to the Celto-Romanic vedunia, meaning forest brook, long before it meant a capital city. Austria’s city of music, home to Mozart and Beethoven, is what most people hear. As a name it is elegant without being fussy, and it has risen sharply, reaching its best-ever rank of #434 in 2025.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Forest stream
- Pronunciation: Viy-EHN-ah
- Variations: Vienne
- Popularity: Ranked #434 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 712 babies were given the name. That is the highest it has ever ranked. Births are up about 131% on the previous ten years.
Vigdis
Vigdis pairs the Old Norse vig, to wage war, with dis, a goddess figure in Norse belief, so it lands on battle goddess. Iceland and Norway still use it. English speakers need one round of practice with the stress before it comes easily.
- Origin: Norse
- Meaning: Warrior goddess
- Pronunciation: VIYG-Diyz
- Variations: Vigdiss, Vigdisse, Vigdys, Vigdyss
- Namesakes: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the fourth president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996. Vigdís Grímsdóttir, an Icelandic writer known for the novel Kaldaljós.
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Vilhelmina
Vilhelmina is the Scandinavian feminine of Wilhelm, read as will-helmet or protector. It is the longer, more formal cousin of Wilhelmina and Vilma. It is rare enough in the United States that the federal count has never listed it, so a Vilhelmina today would be the only one in her school.
- Origin: German, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Determined protector
- Pronunciation: Vihl-hhehl-MIYN-Ah
- Variations: Vilhelmine, Wilhelmina
- Namesakes: Vilhelmina Gyldenstolpe, the Swedish senior lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Sweden from 1829 to 1858. Vilhelmina Bardauskienė, a Lithuanian long jumper, and the 1978 European champion.
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Vilma
Vilma means “resolute protector” when made up of the German “willio,” meaning “desire,” and “helm,” meaning “helmet.” It’s a nickname for Vilhelmina and Wilhelmina, both names considered old-fashioned.
- Origin: German, Russian
- Meaning: Determined protector
- Pronunciation: VIHL-Mah
- Variations: Wilma
- Namesakes: Vilma Reyes, a Puerto Rican poet, and chair of the International Poetry Festival in Puerto Rico since 2010. Vilma Tanskanen, a Finnish ice hockey player and bronze medalist at the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
- Popularity: It sits at #7,861 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 14 girls named. Its best showing was #478 in 1927. That is roughly one in 111,111 girls.
Vilmaris
Vilmaris means “of great fame.” It’s made up of the Latin “vill,” a form of Will, meaning ” protector,” and “maris,” meaning “sea.” It’s been used as a Mexican name and in other South American countries but is otherwise uncommon for girls.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Guardian of the sea
- Pronunciation: Vihl-MAAR-ihs
- Variations: Vilmarice, Vilmariss, Vilmarys
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Vina
Vina names a seven-stringed Indian instrument in Sanskrit, and it works as a short form of Davina. A second thread ties it to the Latin vivus, alive. It is the rarest name on this list that still charts in U.S. births, which is either the drawback or the entire point.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Vineyard
- Pronunciation: VIY-Naa
- Variations: Veena
- Namesakes: Vina Jie-Min Prasad, a Singaporean science fiction writer and three-time finalist for the Nebula Award. Vina Mazumdar, an Indian feminist and prominent figure in the Indian women’s movement.
- Popularity: 7 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #13,100 nationally. Its best showing was #611 in 1913. That is roughly one in 250,000 girls.
Vincenza
Vincenza is the Italian feminine of Vincenzo, from the Roman Vincentius and the Latin vincere, to win. It is a full-dress Italian name, four syllables and no apologies. Enza shortens it for daily use.
- Origin: Italian, Latin
- Meaning: Prevailing
- Pronunciation: Vihn-CHEHN-zaa
- Variations: Vincentia
- Namesakes: Vincenza Petrilli, an Italian paralympic archer and silver medalist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Vincenza Bono Parrino, an Italian minister of cultural and environmental heritage from 1988 to 1989.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #5,904 in 2025, on 21 births. Its best showing was #636 in 1913. That is roughly one in 76,923 girls.
Viola
Viola means purple in Latin and sits one step away from Violet. It is also the string instrument that plays just below the violin, which lends the name a warm, low association. Two syllables in, two out, and no nickname required.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Violet
- Pronunciation: Vay-OW-lah
- Variations: Violah, Vyola, Veola
- Namesakes: Viola Cheptoo Lagat, a Kenyan middle-distance runner who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Viola Smith, an American drummer who performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
- Popularity: It sits at #1,015 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 247 girls named. Its best showing was #52 in 1913. Births are up about 74% on the previous ten years.
Violet
Violet descends from the Old French “violete” and the Latin “viola,” meaning purple. The flower stands for grace and leadership, and the color has meant royalty for centuries. It is the highest ranked V name for American girls right now.
- Origin: French, Latin
- Meaning: Purple
- Pronunciation: VAEY-Leht
- Variations: Violete, Violett, Violette, Viollet, Vyolet
- Namesakes: Violet Smith, an American and the sixth license woman jockey in the U.S. Violet Attlee, the wife of British Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
- Popularity: Ranked #13 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 7,546 babies were given the name. That is the highest it has ever ranked. Births are up about 120% on the previous ten years.
Violetta
Violetta is the Italian diminutive of Violet, and Eastern Europe keeps a shelf of its own spellings. The extra syllable turns a garden name into something operatic. Lettie and Etta are both waiting inside it.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish
- Meaning: Purple
- Pronunciation: Viy-aa-LEH-Taa
- Variations: Violete, Violeta
- Namesakes: Violetta Elvin, a Russian prima ballerina with The Royal Ballet from 1951 to 1956. Violetta Zironi, an Italian actress appearing in season 7 of the Italian version of The X Factor.
- Popularity: 196 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #1,184 nationally. That is the highest it has ever ranked. Births are up about 193% on the previous ten years.
Viorica
Viorica is the Romanian answer to Violet, built on viorea, the sweet violet flower. It has also served as a pet form of Friederike. Three syllables, a soft opening, and a meaning that needs no explanation once you know the flower.
- Origin: Romanian
- Meaning: Violet flower
- Pronunciation: Viy-YOW-rih-Kah
- Namesakes: Viorica Susanu, a Romanian rower and winner of the World Rowing Championships in 1997. Viorica Cucereanu, a Moldovan journalist and the Secretary of the Supervisory Board of PNAC TeleRadio-Moldova since 2009.
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Viqui
Viqui is a Spanish-styled short form of Victoria, the same idea as Vicki with a different set of letters. It looks unusual on paper and sounds completely familiar out loud. Expect to spell it every time.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Victory
- Pronunciation: VEE-Kiy
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Virginia
Virginia originated with the Roman family name Verginius, based on the Latin “virgo,” meaning “maiden.” The U.S. state of Virginia was named in honor of Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen.”
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Virginal, pure
- Pronunciation: Vehr-JHIHN-yah
- Variations: Virgenia, Virgenya, Virgina, Virginiah
- Namesakes: Virginia Madsen, an American actress known for the horror film Candyman (1992). Virginia Woolf, an English writer best known for Mrs Dalloway (1925).
- Popularity: Ranked #526 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 572 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #6 in 1921.
Viridia
Viridia is the trimmed form of Viridiana, from the Latin viridis, green and growing. It is also the name of a specific blue-green shade. It reads softer than Viridiana while keeping the same root.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Green
- Pronunciation: Veh-RIH-diy-Ah
- Variations: Viridianne, Viridiana
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Viridiana
Viridiana comes from the medieval Viridis and reads as blue-green. A 13th-century Italian saint of that name made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It is long, Latinate, and strongest in Spanish-speaking families.
- Origin: Latin, Spanish
- Meaning: Green
- Pronunciation: Ver-IH-diy-AEN-Ah
- Variations: Veridiana
- Namesakes: Verdiana Masanja, the first Tanzanian woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics.
- Popularity: U.S. birth records place it at #5,710 in 2025, on 22 births. Its best showing was #841 in 1995. That is roughly one in 71,429 girls.
Vita
Vita is the Latin word for life, and Italy used it in the medieval compound Bonavita. It has also served as a pet form of Victoria. Three letters after the V, and it never needs repeating on the phone.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Full of life
- Pronunciation: VIY-Taa
- Variations: Veeta, Vitah, Vitta, Vyta
- Namesakes: Vita Sidorkina, a Russian model, in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2015. Vita Anda Tērauda, the Latvian Minister for National Reform from 1994 to 1995.
- Popularity: It sits at #4,454 in the 2025 U.S. rankings, with 32 girls named. Its best showing was #796 in 1929. That is roughly one in 50,000 girls.
Vitalia
The root word for Vitalia is “vita,” meaning “vital” and “life-giving.” It dates back to the Roman Empire and is also somewhat common in Spanish-speaking countries today.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Full of life
- Pronunciation: Vaey-TAEL-Yah
- Variations: Vitallia
- Namesakes: Vitalia Diatchenko, a Russian tennis player who peaked at 60th in the doubles rankings. Vitalia Viktorovna Reshetnyak, a Soviet marine biologist at the Zoological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1949 to 1982.
- Popularity: Ranked #10,863 for U.S. girls in 2025, when 9 babies were given the name. Its best showing was #5,758 in 1922. That is roughly one in 166,667 girls.
Vivian
Vivian traces to the Latin Vivianus, from vivus, alive. A 5th-century martyr carried the masculine form, which is why the name still reads unisex on paper. American parents give it to girls in practice, and it has been climbing back toward where it stood in 1920.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Lively
- Pronunciation: VIHV-iy-Ahn
- Variations: Vivien, Vivienne
- Namesakes: Vivian Maier, an American street photographer and focus of the documentary Finding Vivian Maier (2013). Vivian Vance, an American actress best known for I Love Lucy.
- Popularity: 3,362 U.S. girls received the name in 2025, which put it at #72 nationally. Its best showing was #64 in 1920. Births are up about 46% on the previous ten years.
Vjera
Vjera comes from the Latin “vērus,” meaning “truth” and also means “belief” in Russian. The spelling of Vjera is a mostly Croatian form of the traditional Vera.
- Origin: Serbo-Croatian
- Meaning: Faith
- Pronunciation: VHIY-Rah
- Variations: Vera
- Namesakes: Princess Vjera of Montenegro, a member of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty and the eleventh child of Nicholas I of Montenegro. Vjera Mujović, a Serbian actress and winner of a Golden Knight award in Moscow.
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Vlasta
Vlasta centers on the Slavic vlast, homeland, and it clips the longer Vlastimil and Vlastislav. Czech families use it often enough that it feels ordinary there and striking everywhere else.
- Origin: Czech, Slavic
- Meaning: Homeland
- Pronunciation: VLAES-Tah
- Variations: Vlastah
- Namesakes: Vlasta Pavić, the Croatian Mayor of Zagreb from 2002 to 2005. Vlasta Chramostová, a Czech film actress appearing in The Trap (1950).
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #3,834 in 1938 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #886 in 1916.
Vlatka
Vlatka means “to rule with greatness” and is made up of the Slavic “volod,” meaning “rule,” and “mer,” meaning “great.” It’s also been known to mean “peaceful ruler” and “queen” in Croatian.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Great ruler
- Pronunciation: VLAHT-Kah
- Namesakes: Vlatka Pokos, a Croatian TV host for Sedma noć on Croatian National Television. Vlatka Oršanić, a Croatian opera singer at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet.
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Vlora
Vlora is based on the ancient Greek “avlónas,” meaning “channel” or “glen.” It’s the name of a historical city In Albania and may be a particular version of Flora.
- Origin: Albanian, Greek
- Meaning: Brave, bold woman
- Pronunciation: VLAO-Rah
- Variations: Vlorë
- Namesakes: Vlora Çitaku, the Kosovar-Albanian ambassador to the U.S. from 2015 to 2021.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #15,796 in 1996 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #10,240 in 1991.
Volupia
Volupia specifically means “sensual pleasure” but also “voluptuous woman” in Greek. It’s inspired by a Roman goddess named Volupia with a temple in the Sacellum Volupiae, whose Greek equivalent is Hedone.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: With pleasure
- Pronunciation: Vah-LUW-piy-Ah
- Variations: Volupeah, Volupyah, Volupiah
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
Volusia
Volusia is super mysterious among women’s names that start with V but for its Native American origins. It’s the name of Volusia County, FL, perhaps thought to relate to Veluche, but it is still gorgeous.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Land of Euchee
- Pronunciation: Vah-LOO-Sha
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Voncile
Voncile’s meaning is not settled, beyond roots in France and Germany. It most likely started as a surname before families moved it up front. If you like Lucille but want something almost nobody shares, this is the trade.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: VAHN-sil
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #5,947 in 1972 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #1,164 in 1941.
Vonda
Vonda is an American respelling of Vanda, itself a form of Wanda. The threads behind it point to a wanderer and to the Wendish and Vandal peoples of eastern Germany. It had a strong run in the middle of the last century and has been quiet since.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Of Saxony
- Pronunciation: VAOND-ah
- Variations: Vanda, Wanda
- Namesakes: Vonda Shepard, an American musician appearing on the series Ally McBeal (1997 to 2002). Vonda Ward, an American NCAA basketball player inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #20,329 in 2008 and has not been listed since. It peaked at #261 in 1965.
Voski
No information exists about the Armenian girl’s name Voski other than it also being used for anything “golden.” It’s still mildly uncommon in Armenia and not very popular elsewhere yet.
Vreneli
Vreneli is an unusual nickname for the German Verena and means “true” as a form of Vera. Vreneli is also a term for gold coins used in place of the Swiss franc issued in 1947 and 1949.
- Origin: German, Swiss
- Meaning: Bearer of victory
- Pronunciation: Vreh-NEH-liy
- Variations: Vrineli
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Vrunda
Vrunda also means “goddess radha” and “a chorus of singers.” Vrunda is another word used for “sacred basil,” considered a manifestation of the goddess Tulasi.
- Origin: Hindi, Indian
- Meaning: Basil
- Pronunciation: VRUHN-Dah
- Popularity: The name last charted in U.S. births at #14,049 in 1998 and has not been listed since. That single showing is the only one the federal data records.
Vrushti
Vrushti sometimes recalls “heavy rain” in India and has Gujarati origins. It occasionally means “forest” in the Hindu religion and is quite cute for girls.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: VROOSH-tiy
- Popularity: The U.S. birth records have never carried enough babies with this name to list it, so it holds no national ranking.
Vyoma
Vyoma means “who loves sky” or “who lives in the sky.” It appears in South India and in Sanskrit texts where Vyoma also means “heaven” for high-flying birds.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Bird
- Pronunciation: Viy-YOW-maa
- Namesakes: Vyoma Nandi, an Indian-Canadian actress known for Cash on Delivery (2017).
- Popularity: No U.S. ranking exists for this one, since the federal count publishes a name only once it reaches five births in a year.
Vyusti
Vyusti is read as the first gleam of dawn, with grace and beauty following close behind. It is a rare pick that arrives with its own image built in.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: The first gleam of dawn
- Pronunciation: VYUSH-tiy
- Popularity: Too rare for the U.S. federal name data, which only lists names given to at least five babies in a year.
