Viola
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Viola
Viola has plenty of 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. With a touch of international flair, it also avoids the violent/Violet some parents have.
In the Bard's gender-bending comedy of identity and disguise, Viola is the appealing, passionate heroine, while 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 real-life bearer is Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis.
Viola was a Top 50 name in the US from 1899 to 1911, falling off the list in 1972, but is still popular in other countries such as Italy, where it's in the Top 30 and Finland where it's in the Top 20. More recently, it has entered the England and Wales Top 1000, joining other Shakespearean favorites like Ophelia and Imogen.
And in the US too, where Violet is now a mega-star, strong Viola is climbing up the ranks again, with more than 230 girls given the name in a recent year.
The name does have a number of different pronunciations depending on preference and location. English speakers might say it with the long -i- sound in Violet, making it vye-O-luh or VYE-uh-luh, though vee-O-luh is used too. Elsewhere, it may be heard as VYAW-la (Italy), vih-OO-la (Sweden), vee-O-la (Spanish, German), VEE-aw-la (Slovak), and VEE-o-law (Hungarian). Occasionally, it might even be said with two syllables, VYE-luh, missing out the o sound, as you might in Violet.
Viola is also given to boys.
Pronounced vee-OH-luh.
As of October 2026, Viola ranked #1015 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #42 in 1908, Nameberry popularity #493.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,252 | 194 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,274 | 192 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #1,139 | 223 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #1,164 | 212 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #1,143 | 214 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,076 | 234 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,119 | 216 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,168 | 210 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,033 | 248 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,072 | 232 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,190 | 199 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,015 | 247 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Viola.
Viola on lists
Famous Violas
- Viola Maud ComptonGirl
English actress.
- Viola Mary LyelGirl
English actress.
- Viola KeatsGirl
English actress.
- Viola Elisabeth of TeschenGirl
Queen consort of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia and Poland.
- Viola Davis TennonGirl
American actress.
- Viola Fauver Gregg LiuzzoGirl
American minister and civil rights activist.
- Viola FarberGirl
American choreographer and dancer.
- Viola TreeGirl
English actress.
- Viola HarrisGirl
American actress.
- Viola Emily AllenGirl
American silent film actress.
- Viola Barry (born Gladys Viola Wilson)Girl
American silent film actress.
- Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath)Girl
American silent film actress.
- Viola Cheptoo LagatGirl
Kenyan middle distance runner.
- Viola BauerGirl
German skier.
- Viola OdebrechtGirl
German footballer.
- Viola MyersGirl
Canadian sprinter.
- Viola Estelle GentryGirl
American aviatrix.
- Viola Mae WillsGirl
American pop singer.
- Viola GilletteGirl
American operatic contralto.
- Viola SpolinGirl
American theatre coach.
- Viola HaqiGirl
Dutch model.
- Viola PoleyGirl
German rower.
- Viola Maud (Lyttelton) GrosvenorGirl
Duchess of Westminister 10 June 1912 – 3 May 1987) was the wife of Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster.
- Viola Georgina Grosvenor (b. 1992)Girl
English heiress; granddaughter of Viola Grosvenor.
- Viola Mikkelsen (b. 1992)Girl
daughter of actor Mads Mikkelsen.
- Viola Baah (b. 2012)Girl
daughter of actress Beverly Afaglo and singer Praye Honeho.
- Viola Philomena Gallagher (b.2014)Girl
daughter of ators Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher.
- Viola Forchhammer (b.2016)Girl
daughter of Lukas Forchhammer of the band Lukas Graham.
- Reece Viola HamiltonGirl
daughter of athletes Laird Hamilton & Gabrielle Reece.
Viola in pop culture
- ViolaGirl
main character in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night;" twin of brother Sebastian
- Viola EadeGirl
main character in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy
- Viola LucyGirl
character in the Chalet School series
- Viola "ViGirl
" waitress in the movie "Grease"
- ViolaGirl
one of Jake's daughters in animated series Adventure Time
- Viola HastingsGirl
character in film "She's the Man"
- Viola De LessepsGirl
character in film "Shakespeare in Love"
- ViolaGirl
character in "Saints Row 3"
- Viola CadaveriniGirl
character in "Ace Attorney" video game series
- ViolaGirl
character in video game "The Witch's House"
- ViolaGirl
character in the Soul Calibur series of games.
- ViolaGirl
a bug,type gym leader from the Pokemon video games and anime
- ViolaGirl
character in anime "Kiddy Grade"
- ViolaGirl
character in video game series TimeSplitters
- ViolaGirl
character in the Japanese video game series Zone of the Enders
- ViolaGirl
character in video game Eternal Sonata
- Viola BeachGirl
late English rock band
- A viola is a stringed instrumentGirl
slightly larger than the violin, missing the violin E string and instead has a C string.
- Viola WilloughbyGirl
character played by Kate Siegel in “The Haunting of Bly Manor.”
Variations & nicknames
More nicknames
- ViGirl