Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Virgil
BoyLatin· “from a Roman family name, meaning uncertain”
- Meaning
- from a Roman family name, meaning uncertain (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- VUR-juhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,417
- US babies 2025
- 129
- Best rank
- #93 (1907)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Virgil
Virgil is often said to mean “from a Roman family name, meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.
Virgil is the English form of Vergilius, the Roman family name of the poet Publius Vergilius Maro, author of the Aeneid. The meaning of the family name is uncertain; later writers linked it to virgo, maiden, or virga, staff, but these are guesses. Dante chose Virgil as his guide through Hell and Purgatory in the Divine Comedy, adding to the name's literary prestige. It was used in the US in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is pronounced VUR-juhl. Virge and Gil are possible nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Vergil.
Popularity over time
Virgil 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 112 different years. Its best national rank was #93 in 1907, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 1,830 were named Virgil. In 2025, 129 babies were named Virgil, and it ranked #1,417 nationally. That is 84% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #101 in 1920, #234 in 1950, #617 in 1980, #1,723 in 2000, #1,830 in 2010, and #1,417 in 2025. Of the 72,009 US boys named Virgil since records began, 22% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 11,363 babies. Since 2010, 1,397 more have been named Virgil.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Claude, Maurice, Homer, Luther, and Harvey.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Virgil ranked highest in Arizona, Colorado, and Indiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #778 | 8 |
| Colorado | #955 | 5 |
| Indiana | #1068 | 5 |
| North Carolina | #1267 | 6 |
| California | #1357 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Virgil is usually pronounced VUR-juhl, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with V and ends in “-il”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Vergil.
Middle names for Virgil
A few middle names that flow with Virgil: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Virgil
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Lists that include Virgil
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Virgil mean?
Virgil is often said to mean “from a Roman family name, meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Latin roots.
What is the origin of the name Virgil?
Virgil has Latin roots. Virgil is the English form of Vergilius, the Roman family name of the poet Publius Vergilius Maro, author of the Aeneid.
Is Virgil a popular name?
Not especially. Virgil ranked #1,417 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Virgil a boy or girl name?
Virgil is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Virgil?
Virgil is usually pronounced VUR-juhl. 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