Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Viola
GirlLatin, Italian· “violet”
- Meaning
- violet
- Origin
- Latin, Italian
- Pronunciation
- vy-OH-luh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,015
- US babies 2025
- 247
- Best rank
- #42 (1908)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Viola
Viola is a Latin and Italian name that means “violet”.
Viola is the Latin word for "violet," the small purple flower. The name is best known from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where Viola is the witty heroine who disguises herself as a young man after a shipwreck. It is also the name of a string instrument slightly larger than a violin, though the words have separate origins. Viola has been used as a given name in English for centuries. Actress Viola Davis has brought it renewed attention. Pronounced vy-OH-luh or VEE-oh-luh, the name has a romantic, vintage character, and Vi is a sweet nickname.
Popularity over time
Viola has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 93 different years. Its best national rank was #42 in 1908, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 4,331 were named Viola. In 2025, 247 babies were named Viola, and it ranked #1,015 nationally. That is 29% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #59 in 1920, #311 in 1950, #1,242 in 1980, #3,118 in 2000, #1,768 in 2010, and #1,015 in 2025. Of the 132,993 US girls named Viola since records began, 25% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 33,076 babies. Since 2010, 3,228 more have been named Viola.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ida, Pearl, Eva, Myrtle, and Nellie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Viola ranked highest in Iowa, Missouri, and Michigan.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Viola is usually pronounced vy-OH-luh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with V and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Viola
A few middle names that flow with Viola: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Viola
Similar names
Estella Girl
eh-STEL-uh
“star” · Latin
#509
Marcella Girl
mar-SEL-uh
“of Mars; from Marcellus” · Latin
#948
Mirella Girl
mih-REL-uh
“admirable, or variant of Mireille” · Italian
#3,369
Camilla Girl
kuh-MIH-luh
“from a Roman family name, perhaps 'young attendant'” · Latin
#361
Beatrice Girl
BEE-uh-trihs
“she who brings happiness; blessed” · Latin
#508
Francesca Girl
fran-CHEHS-kuh
“French, from France” · Italian
#307
Annabella Girl
a-nuh-BEH-luh
“combination of Anna and Bella” · Italian
#1,352
Paola Girl
pah-OH-luh
“small” · Italian
#1,260
Lilianna Girl
lil-ee-AH-nuh
“lily” · Latin
#891
Pamela Girl
PA-muh-luh
“often said to mean 'all sweetness'” · English
#2,251
Fabiola Girl
fah-bee-OH-luh
“from the Roman name Fabius; bean” · Latin
#3,079
Lavinia Girl
luh-VIN-ee-uh
“from the Latin town Lavinium; uncertain” · Latin
#2,290
Lists that include Viola
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Viola mean?
Viola is a Latin and Italian name that means “violet”.
What is the origin of the name Viola?
Viola has Latin and Italian roots. Viola is the Latin word for "violet," the small purple flower.
Is Viola a popular name?
Not especially. Viola ranked #1,015 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Viola a boy or girl name?
Viola is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Viola?
Viola is usually pronounced vy-OH-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings