The story behind Vera
Borrowed in the nineteenth century from the Russian virtue name Ве́ра (Véra, “faith”). By folk etymology it has also been explained as Latin vera (“true”).
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Dutch entry
Ultimately from Russian Ве́ра (Véra).
German entry
From Russian Ве́ра (Véra) at the end of the 19th century.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Vera, from Russian Ве́ра (Véra).
Pronunciation
UK: /ˈvɪə.ɹə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˈveː.raː/
- German: /ˈveːʁa/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈveɾa/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈvɛː.ɾɐ]
- Tagalog: /ˈbeɾa/
- Tagalog: [ˈbɛː.ɾɐ]
Popularity
Vera ranked #205 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Vera
Vanja
Borrowed from Russian Ваня (Vanja).
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Vilma
Borrowed from German Wilma. Borrowed from German Wilma and English Wilma, short for (cognates of) Vilhelmiina. Borrowed from English Vilma.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Edna
From Hebrew עֶדְנָה (“pleasure; delight”); a variant of Eden in the Book of Tobit. In Ireland and Scotland it has been used as an anglicization of Eithne. a female given name…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Emma
Brought to England by the Normans; short form of compound given names beginning with a Frankish prototheme Ermin- or Irmin- "entire", from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. From German…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gina
* (name from Greek): Clipping of Georgina. * (name from Latin): Clipping of Regina. * (name from Italian): Italian Gina Borrowed from English Gina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Vera
Ian
Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic Eòin. Unadapted borrowing from English Ian. Doublet of João, Ivan, Jean, Ruan, and Geovane. Borrowed from English Ian, from Scottish Gaelic…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Joy
From the noun joy, first used by Puritans in the 17th century. Borrowed from English Joy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sky
From sky. As a surname, a translation of German Himmel and an anglicization of Ashkenazic surnames ending in -sky.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Vera
Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Blue
From the German surname, Americanized from Blau or its French cognate bleu.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection