The first name Virginia
A girl’s name from Latin.
Pronounced /vɚˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
From Latin Virginia, feminine form of Virginius or Verginius, a Roman family name, possibly identical with Vergilius. The state/colony was named for Elizabeth I as the Virgin Queen, equivalent to virgin + -ia.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 9 girls were named Virginia, making it the 2,788th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 21 births (#974).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Virginia with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Virginia at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 572 girls born in the United States were named Virginia, the 526th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1922, when 19,144 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Virginia in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Virginia in Esperanto and Spanish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Virginia
Famous people named Virginia
108 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Virginia WoolfEnglish modernist writer (1882–1941)
- Virginia ApgarAmerican obstetrical anesthesiologist (1909-1974)
- Virginia MadsenAmerican actress, born 1961
- Virginia WadeBritish tennis player, born 1945
- Virginia MayoAmerican actress (1920–2005)
- Virginia GardnerAmerican actress, born 1995
- Virginia SatirAmerican psychotherapist & non-fiction author, 1916–1988
- Virginia CherrillAmerican actress (1908–1996)
- Virginia Roberts GiuffreAdvocate for sex trafficking victims (1983–2025)
- Virginia McKennaBritish actress, born 1931
- Virginia BruceActress from the United States (1910-1982)
- Virginia GreyAmerican actress (1917–2004)
More Latin girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Virginia mean?
- From Latin Virginia, feminine form of Virginius or Verginius, a Roman family name, possibly identical with Vergilius. The state/colony was named for Elizabeth I as the Virgin Queen, equivalent to virgin + -ia.
- What is the origin of the name Virginia?
- From Latin Virginia, feminine form of Virginius or Verginius, a Roman family name, possibly identical with Vergilius. The state/colony was named for Elizabeth I as the Virgin Queen, equivalent to virgin + -ia.
- How popular is the name Virginia?
- In 2025, 9 girls born in England and Wales were named Virginia, ranking 2,788th. Its peak was 1996, with 21 births.
- What are nicknames for Virginia?
- Common nicknames for Virginia include Virgie.
- Is Virginia a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 654,968 US babies named Virginia since 1880 were girls.
- When was Virginia most popular?
- 1922 in the United States, when 19,144 babies were named Virginia, its highest rank at 7th.
- How do you pronounce Virginia?
- Virginia is /vɚˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/, 3 syllables.
- Is Virginia also a surname?
- Yes. Virginia is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.