seven reflections
Login
Virgil Name Meaning, Origins & History

Virgil

Pronunciation: VUR-jul

Meaning Staff bearer Origin Latin Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,417
TREND
125
Peak Years
1921, 1922, 1923
Lowest Years
2012, 2008, 2009
Energy Archetype
Loyal & Resolute

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Virgil in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Virgil

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Virgil appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 8 years. Its last run lasted 3 consecutive years, from 1921 through 1923.
  • More than 73 thousand babies named Virgil: U.S. records list 73,454 babies given the name Virgil from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,444 girls received the name Virgil - about 1 girl for every 50 boys.

What Does the Name Virgil Mean?

Virgil is the English form of the Roman family name Vergilius, best known as the name of the poet Publius Vergilius Maro. The origin of Vergilius is not settled. One often-cited explanation links it to the Latin virga, meaning "shoot," "rod," or "twig," which would give a sense such as "of the shoot" or "flourishing." Another explanation treats the name as Etruscan in origin. Because no derivation is firmly established, the meaning is best described as uncertain.

Virgil Name History & Origins

The poet's name was spelled Vergilius in classical Latin. The spelling Virgil, with an i in the second syllable, developed in later Latin and medieval copying and is the form that passed into English. In Roman use Vergilius was a hereditary family name rather than an ordinary personal name, and the poet's family came from around Mantua in northern Italy.

Virgil's standing as the author of the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid kept his name familiar through the Middle Ages. Separately, a medieval legend turned Virgil into a magician and builder of marvels, especially in Naples; this is folk tradition about the poet, not a record of the historical man. Dante later used Virgil as the guide through Hell and Purgatory in the Divine Comedy.

The name also appears in medieval Europe: the Irish monk who became bishop of Salzburg and is remembered as Saint Virgilius (d. 784) received the Latin name, while his original Irish name is usually given as Fergal. In modern use the name has related forms in several languages, including Italian and Spanish Virgilio, French Virgile, and German Vergil. As an English given name it has been carried by figures such as the lawman Virgil Earp and the astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom.

How Popular is the Name Virgil?

Virgil recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1921. The name enjoyed early prominence in the late 19th century before its sustained modern rise.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Virgil

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Past Favorite Boy Names

Past Favorite Boy Names: Once-Popular Names

Explore More Lists with Name Virgil

Most Popular Boy Names That Start with V

See List of Most Popular Boy Names Starting with V

How the Name Virgil Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.

✦ Virgil's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Virgil's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
Explore Insights & Tips

Name Search