Virginia

At a Glance: Name: Virginia – Meaning: popularly glossed 'maiden/virgin' (via Latin virgo), though the name itself derives from the Roman family name Verginius/Virginius, whose own root is uncertain – Origin: Latin – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: vur-JIN-yah

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Virginia (pronounced vur-JIN-yah) is a Latin name with a timeless, classic, vintage feel. It's often assumed to mean 'maiden' or 'virgin,' echoing the Latin word virgo, but the name actually comes from the old Roman family name Verginius, whose original meaning isn't known — that 'virgin' association owes more to Elizabeth I's nickname, the 'Virgin Queen,' than to the name's actual root. So while the popular story ties Virginia to purity, the name's real history is simply a Roman family surname of uncertain origin.

Meaning & Origin of Virginia

Meaning: Popularly glossed 'maiden/virgin' (via latin virgo), though the name itself derives from the roman family name verginius/virginius, whose own root is uncertain.

Origin: Latin.

A common claim: Virginia means 'virgin' or 'pure,' after the 'Virgin Queen' Elizabeth I Actually: The 'virgin' sense is a popular folk association (boosted by Elizabeth I's nickname) rather than the name's direct etymological root, which is an old Roman family name of uncertain origin.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Virginia

Phonetic: vur-JIN-yah   IPA: /vərˈdʒɪnjə/

Popularity of Virginia

Virginia peaked at #6 in the U.S. in 1921, when 19,032 girls were given the name, and has since dropped to #510 in 2024, with just 601 babies given the name that year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Virginia Name Art

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

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Alma
• Beata
• Cecelia
• Gloria
• Grace
• Lilian

FAQ

What does the name Virginia mean?

Popularly glossed ‘maiden/virgin’ (via latin virgo), though the name itself derives from the roman family name verginius/virginius, whose own root is uncertain. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Virginia)

How do you pronounce Virginia?

Virginia is pronounced vur-JIN-yah (IPA: /vərˈdʒɪnjə/).

Is Virginia a popular name right now?

Virginia peaked at #6 in 1921 and is ranked #510 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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