Vi
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 955 recorded births. Also given to 125 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given names Violet and Viola.
Vi is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, a diminutive of Violet — from the Latin viola meaning 'violet flower.' The violet has symbolized faithfulness, modesty, and the color purple throughout European culture. Vi is the minimalist form — one vowel and one consonant carrying all that botanical beauty.
Vi gained pop culture recognition through the character Vi (Violet 'Vi' Xiuying Powell) in the animated series Arcane (2021), the League of Legends prequel. For fans of the series, Vi is a fierce, complex heroine — a name of minimal letters and maximal personality.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Vi is rooted in the Latin tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1916 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Vi’s 955 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Vi was #6756 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #10184, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 56 | #9644 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 106 | #10592 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 190 | #6724 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 219 | #4850 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 251 | #3624 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 26 | #5500 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 30 | #5804 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 44 | #5383 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 13 | #4437 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 5 | #4939 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 10 | #5658 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | #5123 | — |
The Story of Vi
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1982, Vi is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Vi are most likely born between 1972 and 1992.
How rare is Vi?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Vi — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 251 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Vi by the numbers
- Would fill 20 school buses
- Meeting one Vi per day would take 2.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(63 years, 1916–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #10184 |
| 2023 | 14 | #8020 |
| 2022 | 8 | #12166 |
| 2021 | 12 | #8936 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8912 |
| 2019 | 8 | #12372 |
| 2018 | 13 | #8576 |
| 2017 | 8 | #12649 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8842 |
| 2015 | 11 | #10103 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10905 |
| 2013 | 10 | #10956 |
| 2012 | 10 | #11201 |
| 2011 | 13 | #9115 |
| 2010 | 10 | #11199 |
| 2009 | 16 | #8033 |
| 2008 | 16 | #8089 |
| 2007 | 16 | #8082 |
| 2006 | 15 | #8216 |
| 2005 | 20 | #6234 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Vi as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Vi has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 125 births since 1980.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vi a boy's or girl's name?
When was Vi most popular?
How popular is the name Vi?
Can Vi be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–2024