At a Glance
- Meaning
- Turn, return — the West African river was named for the point where Portuguese traders turned back
- Origin
- Portuguese (river name); also an Italian surname
- Pronunciation
- VOL-tuh
Volta is a Portuguese (river name); also an Italian surname name meaning “turn, return — the West African river was named for the point where Portuguese traders turned back”. It appears in our list of 200+ Geographical Baby Names Inspired by Places Around the World.
Meaning & Origin of Volta
Meaning: Turn, return — the West African river was named for the point where Portuguese traders turned back.
Origin: Portuguese (river name); also an Italian surname.
A common claim: Volta is often glossed as Italian for "turn" or "roll." Actually: "Roll" overstates it — the word means "turn" or "return," and the river's name specifically comes from Portuguese, not Italian.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Volta
VOL-tuhIPA /ˈvɒltə/
Popularity of Volta
Volta doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Volta
Similar Names
Zion · Yukon · Thames · Zambezi · Serengeti · Rhone
