Viola
Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Viola: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 2018.
Viola is a name with Latin roots, derived from the word for "violet" – the fragrant purple flower that has long symbolised modesty and faithfulness. It also shares its form with the string instrument, lending it a musical elegance. The most famous bearer in modern times is Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, whose powerful performances have broken barriers in Hollywood. In Canada, Viola Desmond (1914–1965) is a civil rights icon whose refusal to leave a whites-only section of a theatre sparked a landmark legal challenge; she now appears on the Canadian ten-dollar bill. Place associations are less direct, but the name evokes the violet itself, found in gardens and wild meadows across Scotland. A notable variant is Violet, which has surged in popularity alongside vintage floral names, while Shakespeare fans will recognise Viola as the witty, cross-dressing heroine of Twelfth Night.
Girl 1 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20186 babies
- Latest (2018)
- #5026 babies
- Total births
- 6since 2018
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y