Viola

Latin
"violet"

Viola Origin and Meaning

The name Viola is a girl's name of Italian, Latin origin meaning "violet".

Viola has several positive elements going for it: the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

In the Bard's gender-bending comedy of identity and disguise, Viola is the appealing, passionate heroine. Later takes on this tale include Shakespeare in Love, with Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola de Lesseps and She's the Man starring Amanda Bynes.

The most distinguished current bearer is Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis.

Viola was a Top 50 name from 1899 to 1911, falling off the list in 1972, but is still popular in other countries such as Italy, where it is Number 15. And with Violet not sounding quite as fresh as it did, the strong Viola could find herself back in the running.

# 962 in the US

Viola Rank in US Top 1000

# 420 on Nameberry

Viola Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Viola Popularity

Famous People Named Viola

  • Viola Maud ComptonEnglish actress.
  • Viola Mary LyelEnglish actress.
  • Viola KeatsEnglish actress.
  • Viola Elisabeth of TeschenQueen consort of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia and Poland.
  • Viola Davis TennonAmerican actress.
  • Viola Fauver Gregg LiuzzoAmerican minister and civil rights activist.
  • Viola FarberAmerican choreographer and dancer.
  • Viola TreeEnglish actress.
  • Viola HarrisAmerican actress.
  • Viola Emily AllenAmerican silent film actress.
  • Viola Barry (born Gladys Viola Wilson)American silent film actress.
  • Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath)American silent film actress.
  • Viola Cheptoo LagatKenyan middle distance runner.
  • Viola BauerGerman skier.
  • Viola OdebrechtGerman footballer.
  • Viola MyersCanadian sprinter.
  • Viola Estelle GentryAmerican aviatrix.
  • Viola Mae WillsAmerican pop singer.
  • Viola GilletteAmerican operatic contralto.
  • Viola SpolinAmerican theatre coach.
  • Viola HaqiDutch model.
  • Viola PoleyGerman rower.
  • Viola Maud (Lyttelton) GrosvenorDuchess of Westminister 10 June 1912 – 3 May 1987) was the wife of Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster.
  • Viola Georgina Grosvenor (b. 1992)English heiress; granddaughter of Viola Grosvenor.
  • Viola Mikkelsen (b. 1992)daughter of actor Mads Mikkelsen.
  • Viola Baah (b. 2012)daughter of actress Beverly Afaglo and singer Praye Honeho.
  • Viola Philomena Gallagher (b.2014)daughter of ators Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher.
  • Viola Forchhammer (b.2016)daughter of Lukas Forchhammer of the band Lukas Graham.
  • Reece Viola Hamiltondaughter of athletes Laird Hamilton & Gabrielle Reece.

Viola in Pop Culture

  • Violamain character in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night;" twin of brother Sebastian
  • Viola Eademain character in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy
  • Viola Lucycharacter in the Chalet School series
  • Viola "Vi" waitress in the movie "Grease"
  • Violaone of Jake's daughters in animated series Adventure Time
  • Viola Hastingscharacter in film "She's the Man"
  • Viola De Lessepscharacter in film "Shakespeare in Love"
  • Violacharacter in "Saints Row 3"
  • Viola Cadaverinicharacter in "Ace Attorney" video game series
  • Violacharacter in video game "The Witch's House"
  • Violacharacter in the Soul Calibur series of games.
  • Violaa bug,type gym leader from the Pokemon video games and anime
  • Violacharacter in anime "Kiddy Grade"
  • Violacharacter in video game series TimeSplitters
  • Violacharacter in the Japanese video game series Zone of the Enders
  • Violacharacter in video game Eternal Sonata
  • Viola Beachlate English rock band
  • A viola is a stringed instrumentslightly larger than the violin, missing the violin E string and instead has a C string.
  • Viola Willoughbycharacter played by Kate Siegel in “The Haunting of Bly Manor.”