Violet Name Meaning

What Does Violet Mean?

Violet is a lovely name that evokes the beauty, grace, and power of nature. It's an English name of Latin origin that means purple. It also represents violet (and other purple) flowers. Violet is derived from "viola," which means purple in Latin. Viola is also a name in its own right that is typically used as a girl name as well.

Violet is a traditional name that had its heyday in the early 20th century but has regained popularity over the past few decades. It is unique in that it combines the classic sound of an old-fashioned name with both a flower and color name. Despite its deep roots, Violet also exudes a fresh, hip vibe.

In many cultures, purple is a color of royalty. So, the name Violet connotates regality, leadership, strength, and grace. Its link to the violet flower and the color purple also imbue the name with an organic spirit, beauty, delicacy, and vibrancy.

How Popular Is the Name Violet?

Violet is an increasingly popular name that has been around for centuries. It has been particularly popular in England, Ireland, and Scotland. According to the Social Security Administration, Violet enjoyed steady top 100 status in the first quarter of the 20th century before taking a nosedive from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The name had plummeted to the 997th spot on the list in 1981.

However, over the past two decades, Violet has forged a steep resurgence, jumping from the 734th most used girl name in 2000 to the 369th 5 years later. By 2012, Violet breeched the top 100 and has stayed there and above ever since. In 2015, the name became the 50th most popular. By 2020, Violet was ranked as the 37th most used name. That year, over 5,000 baby girls were named Violet.

One reason this name's popularity has taken off is that multiple celebrities, including Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, have named their daughters Violet in recent years. Another key to Violet's growing appeal is that it resonates with popular trends that favor flower names, color names, and classic names.

Name Variations

There are multiple spelling variations for the name Violet and it is used in many languages, including English, Italian, French, Spanish, and Russian. Here are some other forms and spellings of this name from around the world.

• Viola (Latin)
• Violeta (Spanish, Greek, Bulgarian)
• Violett
• Violetta (Italian, Russian)
• Violette (French, English)
• Wioleta (Polish)

Similar Names

If you are still not completely sold on the name Violet, you may want to consider other names starting with the letter V. These include:

• Vale
• Valencia
• Valentina
• Valerie
• Vanessa
• Vanna
• Vanya
• Vera
• Verna
• Victoria
• Vivien

For more classic girl names, here are a few to consider:

• Alice
• Ava
• Betty
• Charlotte
• Dorothy
• Edith
• Emma
• Ethel
• Hannah
• Henrietta
• Ida
• Olive
• Penelope
• Sarah
• Sophie

If you like color names, you might want to consider these names:

• Amber
• Azure
• Indigo
• Pink
• Scarlet
• Turquoise

And, if flower or plant names are more your style, you might like these names:

• Daisy
• Holly
• Hyacinth
• Ivy
• Jasmine
• Lily
• Orchid
• Poppy
• Rose
• Willow

Common Nicknames

There are several common nicknames for Violet. These include:

• Letta
• Lettie/Letty
• Lottie/Lotty
• V
• Vi
• Vi-Vi
• Vivie

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Violet? Some popular options include:

• Benjamin
• Brynn
• Charlie
• Edward
• Evelyn
• Hank
• June
• Lynn
• Olivia
• Noah
• Salma
• Silvia
• Walter

Famous People Named Violet

The name Violet has been around for hundreds of years, so your baby would be in good company with this name. There are plenty of notable historical and literary figures your baby would share a name with, too. Here are a few of the more famous Violets.

Famous Violets

• Violet Aitken, British suffragette
• Violet Astor, British aristocrat
• Violet Barclay, American illustrator
• Violet Barungi, Ugandan editor
• Violet Blue, American author
• Violet Brown, Jamaican supercentarian
• Violet Bonham Carter, British politician
• Violet Brunton, English artist
• Violet Cliff, British ice skater
• Violet Fane, British poet
• Violet Hackbarth, American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Violet Heming, English actress
• Violet Hopkins, American painter
• Violet La Plante, American silent film star
• Violet MacMillan, American Broadway theater actress
• Violet Oakley, American artist
• Violet Palmer, American basketball referee
• Violet Tweedale, Scottish poet

Fictional Violets

• Violet Beauregarde, a character in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
• Violet Bridgerton, mother of the Bridgerton siblings in "Bridgerton"
• Violet Gray, a character in the "Peanuts"
• Violet Parr, a character from the animated superhero film "The Incredibles"