Is Viola a boy's or girl's name?

Viola is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 434 recorded births.

When was Viola most popular?

Viola reached its peak popularity in 1918 with 4,331 births that year. It is currently ranked #1190 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Viola?

Viola is currently ranked #1190 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 132,741 babies since 1880.

Viola

An uncommon Latin pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysLatinDeclining Also a pet name

#1190▼ 118in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A taxonomic genus within the family Violaceae – violets.

Viola is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin word for 'violet' — both the flower and the color purple, long associated with royalty, creativity, and romance. Shakespeare used it for the resourceful heroine of Twelfth Night, giving the name a 400-year literary pedigree.

Viola ranked in the U.S. top 100 from the 1880s through the 1920s and is firmly back in the conversation today, helped by actress Viola Davis's multiple Emmy and Oscar wins. Elegant, distinctive, and culturally rich.

Compare Viola with another name

Popularity Over Time

Viola climbed 1804 spots in the last 20 years — from #2994 to #1190.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Viola
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,105	#1116	▼
2010s	1,870	#1312	▲
2000s	734	#2540	▲
1990s	488	#2648	▼
1980s	764	#1625	▼
1970s	1,058	#1182	▼
1960s	2,732	#629	▼
1950s	5,386	#382	▼
1940s	8,269	#241	▼
1930s	14,256	#153	▼
1920s	33,251	#85	▲
1910s	33,077	#55	▲
1900s	16,559	#46	▲
1890s	9,386	#62	▲
1880s	3,806	#83	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Viola
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	199	#1190	-33 (-14.2%)
2023	232	#1072	-16 (-6.5%)
2022	248	#1033	+38 (18.1%)
2021	210	#1168	-6 (-2.8%)
2020	216	#1119	-18 (-7.7%)
2019	234	#1076	+20 (9.3%)
2018	214	#1143	+2 (0.9%)
2017	212	#1164	-11 (-4.9%)
2016	223	#1139	+31 (16.1%)
2015	192	#1274	-2 (-1.0%)
2014	194	#1252	+13 (7.2%)
2013	181	#1300	+13 (7.7%)
2012	168	#1389	+33 (24.4%)
2011	135	#1611	+18 (15.4%)
2010	117	#1768	+1 (0.9%)
2009	116	#1847	+19 (19.6%)
2008	97	#2104	-4 (-4.0%)
2007	101	#2033	+2 (2.0%)
2006	99	#2015	+38 (62.3%)
2005	61	#2754	+8 (15.1%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Viola as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Viola has also been given to 434 boys in the U.S. since 1889.

Unranked

Current rank

434

Total births

1931

Peak year

Compare Viola as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Viola be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Viola is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1190. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Viola has two lives

Viola, the baby name

#1190girls

132,741 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology