The story behind 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.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Italian entry
Borrowed from English Virginia, from Latin Virginia.
Spanish entry
Borrowed from English Virginia, from Latin Virginia.
Pronunciation
General-American: /vɚˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /vəˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/
- Italian: /virˈd͡ʒi.nja/
- Spanish: /biɾˈxinja/
- Spanish: [biɾˈxi.nja]
Popularity
Virginia ranked #526 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Virginia
Valencia
From Spanish Valencia, from Latin Valentia, from valentia (“power, vigour”). Doublet of Valence.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Valentina
From Spanish, Italian, and Latin Valentīna, feminine forms of Spanish and Italian Valentino, and Latin Valentīnus. Doublet of Valentine, Valentinus, Valentino, and Valentini.…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Valeria
Feminine form of Roman family name Valerius, from Latin valere (“to be healthy, to be strong”). Doublet of Valerie. From Latin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Verónica
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Veronica, borrowed from Late Latin Veronica. Doublet of Berenice.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Verônica
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Veronica, borrowed from Late Latin Veronica. Doublet of Berenice.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Veronika
Inherited from Old Czech Veronika, from Late Latin Veronica. From Late Latin Veronīca. Derived from Late Latin Veronica. From Late Latin Veronica. From Dutch Veronika.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Virginia
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
Barbara
* From Latin Barbara, the name of Saint Barbara, feminine form of barbarus, from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “strange, foreign”). Doublet of Varvara. * (logic): From the…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Virginia
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
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abílio
Perhaps from Latin abilius (“not vindictive”). Possibly related to Abelardo.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length