Virginia is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Virilis, which means "vigorous" or "manly". The name was traditionally given to daughters as a way to honor their fathers.
The name Virginia has been popular throughout history and in various cultures. In ancient Rome, it was used as a female praenomen, one of the three names Romans used. In English-speaking countries, Virginia became more common during the Victorian era in the 19th century. It was also popular among early settlers in the United States, with the state of Virginia being named after England's Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as "The Virgin Queen".
Virginia has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. These include Virginia Woolf, an influential British writer and a central figure in modernist literature; Virginia Wade, a former British tennis player who won the Wimbledon singles title in 1977; and Virginia Apgar, an American anesthesiologist known for creating the Apgar Score, a method used to evaluate the health of newborn babies.
Today, Virginia continues to be a popular given name around the world. It is often associated with qualities such as strength, vigor, and independence, reflecting its original meaning. However, it's important to note that names do not determine the personality or characteristics of individuals who bear them. Each person is unique and possesses their own set of traits.
The statistics show a significant increase in the number of births named Virginia over time, with fluctuations but an overall upward trend. The name's popularity peaked around the early 1920s with nearly 20,000 births per year, and it remained quite popular throughout the mid-20th century. However, since the 1960s, there has been a consistent decline in the number of newborn girls named Virginia, reaching a low point of fewer than 500 births per year by the early 21st century. Despite this decline, the name continues to be used, with around 500-600 births per year from 2015 onwards. In total, over the span of these records (1880-2023), there have been 651,766 newborn girls named Virginia in the United States.