The story behind Viola
From Latin viola (“violet”).
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Finnish entry
From Latin viola in the 19th century.
Italian entry
The given name derived from Latin viola (“a violet”). The surname can be matronymic, but more often occupational, for a dyer of violet cloth, or a player of the viola.
Swedish entry
From Latin viola (“violet”). First recorded in Sweden in 1844.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /vaɪˈəʊlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /viˈəʊlə/
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈvaɪələ/
- Finnish: /ˈʋiolɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈʋio̞lɑ̝]
- Italian: /viˈɔ.la/
- Italian: /ˈvjɔ.la/
- Swedish: /vɪ²uːla/
Popularity
Viola ranked #1015 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Viola
Verna
Coined in the 19th century, from Latin vernus (“spring-like”) or as a feminine of Vernon. Borrowed from Swedish Verna in the end of the 19th century. Usually explained as…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Vesta
From Middle English Vesta, from Latin Vesta, related to Ancient Greek ἑστία (hestía, “to dwell”) and Ἑστία (Hestía, “Hestia”), all from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes-; see also…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Vita
Borrowed from Latin Vita, feminine of Vitus.
- 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
Anna
From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anndra
From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέᾱς (Andréās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Viola
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Viola
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length