Virginia is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Virilis, which means "vigorous" or "manly". The name was traditionally given to daughters as a way to honor their fathers.
The name Virginia has been popular throughout history and in various cultures. In ancient Rome, it was used as a female praenomen, one of the three names Romans used. In English-speaking countries, Virginia became more common during the Victorian era in the 19th century. It was also popular among early settlers in the United States, with the state of Virginia being named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as "The Virgin Queen".
Virginia has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. These include Virginia Woolf, an influential British writer and a central figure in modernist literature; Virginia Wade, a former British tennis player who won the Wimbledon singles title in 1977; and Virginia Apgar, an American anesthesiologist known for creating the Apgar Score, a method used to evaluate the health of newborn babies.
Today, Virginia continues to be a popular given name around the world. It is often associated with qualities such as strength, vigor, and independence, reflecting its original meaning. However, it's important to note that names do not determine the personality or characteristics of individuals who bear them. Each person is unique and possesses their own set of traits.
The given statistics show the number of births with the name Virginia in the United States from 1880 to 2023. The data reveals an interesting trend over time.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Virginia was quite popular, with a significant increase in its usage from around 1900 onwards. Between 1900 and 1918, there was a substantial rise in the number of newborn girls named Virginia, reaching a peak of 16,421 births in 1918.
However, after this peak, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Virginia. By the 1950s, the number of newborn girls named Virginia had decreased significantly, with only around 6,000 births per year. This downward trend continued into the late 20th century and early 21st century, with fewer than 600 babies named Virginia born each year between 2006 and 2023.
In recent years, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Virginia. After reaching a low of 505 births in 2020, the number of newborn girls named Virginia increased to 569 in 2021 and 535 in 2022.
Overall, while the name Virginia was quite popular in the early 20th century, its usage has declined significantly over time. However, there is some evidence that this classic name may be experiencing a small comeback in recent years.