A 1960s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Velvet since 1920
Babies named Velvet per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 119 |
| 1950s | 168 |
| 1960s | 1,257 |
| 1970s | 662 |
| 1980s | 401 |
| 1990s | 206 |
| 2000s | 110 |
| 2010s | 94 |
| 2020s | 73 |
Meaning & origin
Velvet is a modern word name that emerged in the early 20th century, first recorded in 1920. It reached its peak popularity in 1961, during the height of the 1960s, and has seen a steady rise since 2010, placing it in the current revival trend of vintage and texture-inspired names. With a rank of 8,362 in 2025 and a rarity of 1 in every 133,939 births, it remains an uncommon but recognizable choice, favored for its plush, tactile image that evokes luxury and nostalgia.
The name Velvet derives directly from the English word for a soft fabric, itself from Old French veluotte, a diminutive of velu 'shaggy' (from Latin villus 'shaggy hair'). It first came into use as a given name in the early 20th century, part of a trend for word names evoking luxury and texture. The name saw its peak popularity in the 1960s and has experienced a revival since 2010.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Vivi, Vettie, Vel
Sibling names for Velvet
Names that share Velvet's style, for a brother or sister.
