Violet
Say it: VY-o-let
GirlMeans the violet flower6 letters3 syllables
#213
in Ireland (2025)
#217 with spellings combined
20
babies in 2025
#166
best rank (2023)
358
babies since 1964
Up 186
10-year rank change
Violet through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #217 |
| 2024 | 26 | #171 |
| 2023 | 29 | #166 |
| 2022 | 17 | #257 |
| 2021 | 12 | #339 |
| 2020 | 14 | #292 |
| 2019 | 20 | #236 |
| 2018 | 15 | #296 |
| 2017 | 11 | #368 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 |
| 2015 | 11 | #403 |
| 2014 | 9 | #462 |
| 2013 | 8 | #496 |
| 2012 | 4 | #769 |
| 2011 | 5 | #693 |
| 2010 | 5 | #666 |
| 2009 | 6 | #583 |
| 2008 | 5 | #667 |
| 2007 | 3 | #841 |
| 1987 | 4 | #446 |
| 1982 | 3 | #523 |
| 1981 | 3 | #533 |
| 1980 | 3 | #542 |
| 1977 | 7 | #369 |
| 1976 | 4 | #429 |
| 1975 | 5 | #406 |
| 1974 | 8 | #324 |
| 1973 | 8 | #331 |
| 1972 | 7 | #332 |
| 1971 | 6 | #349 |
| 1970 | 10 | #272 |
| 1969 | 6 | #322 |
| 1968 | 8 | #270 |
| 1967 | 9 | #246 |
| 1966 | 9 | #236 |
| 1965 | 13 | #209 |
| 1964 | 13 | #206 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Violet mean?
The violet flower
English, a flower name from the 19th century, sometimes taken from the French Violette.
Say it right
VYolet
The story of Violet
Violet is named after the small purple flower. It became a given name in the 19th century, when flower names such as Daisy, Lily and Rose were fashionable, and in some cases it also stood in for the older French name Violette. Like many of those names it faded during the 20th century and has since made a strong return, especially in the United States.
In Ireland Violet was still being given in small numbers when the CSO records begin, but it dropped out of use entirely in the 1990s. It came back from 2007, and it has been given every year since. Its best year was 2023, when 29 girls were named Violet and it reached number 166. The name is slightly more popular in Northern Ireland, where 20 girls were named Violet in 2025, its best rank there so far.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Violet (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Violet (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Vi
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Violet | 20 | 358 |
In Northern Ireland
#106 in 2025 with 20 babies. Best rank #106 (2025); 183 babies since 2008.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.