Lavinia

At a Glance

Origin

Latin (place name Lavinium, Latium)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

luh-VIN-ee-ahListen

Lavinia comes from Latin, connected to Lavinium, an ancient town in Latium — not Rome, though you'll often see the name summed up as "woman of Rome" or "purity." That gloss doesn't actually hold up: it's considered folk etymology, and linguistically the name's meaning is treated as obscure rather than settled. If you're sounding it out, it's pronounced luh-VIN-ee-ah.

Meaning & Origin of Lavinia

Origin: Latin (place name Lavinium, Latium).

A common claim: widely glossed as 'purity' or 'woman of Rome/Latium' Actually: The meaning of Lavinia is obscure. It connects to the town of Lavinium in Latium, not Rome, but no meaning such as 'purity' is actually attested.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Lavinia

Popularity of Lavinia

Lavinia hit its high point on the SSA charts back in 1880, ranking #360 with 21 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had slipped to #2139, even though the raw count was higher at 89 babies.

Names Like Lavinia

These names share Lavinia’s style, era or origin.

• Adria
• Adrienne
• Aldera
• Angelica
• Aprilia
• Astra

FAQ

What does the name Lavinia mean?

widely glossed as ‘purity’ or ‘woman of Rome/Latium’ The meaning of Lavinia is obscure. It connects to the town of Lavinium in Latium, not Rome, but no meaning such as ‘purity’ is actually attested.

How do you pronounce Lavinia?

Lavinia is pronounced luh-VIN-ee-ah (IPA: /ləˈvɪniə/).

Is Lavinia a popular name right now?

Lavinia peaked at #360 in 1880 and is ranked #2139 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Lavinia Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Lavinia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.