A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Vira since 1882
Babies named Vira per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Vira's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 47 |
| 1890s | 120 |
| 1900s | 137 |
| 1910s | 225 |
| 1920s | 233 |
| 1930s | 144 |
| 1940s | 93 |
| 1950s | 88 |
| 1960s | 45 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 47 |
| 2020s | 95 |
Meaning & origin
Vira is a name with layered origins, most commonly linked to the Latin 'vera' (true) and the Slavic word for 'faith'. In the United States, it was first recorded in 1882 and saw its peak popularity in 1896, during the revival of interest in the 1890s. After a long decline, it has been rising again since 2010, though it remains uncommon: as of 2025, it ranks 4,987, with about 1 in 61,818 babies receiving the name. Vira is a short, distinctive choice that carries a sense of sincerity and cultural depth.
Vira has multiple origins. In Latin, it is a feminine form of 'Vir' (man), but more commonly it is considered a variant of Vera, meaning 'true'. In Slavic languages, Vira can mean 'faith' (from věra). The name has been used in various cultures, including Ukrainian and Russian, where it is a short form of names like Vira (Віра). In the United States, Vira saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a recent revival.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Vi, Vivi
Variants: Vera, Virah
Sibling names for Vira
Names that share Vira's style, for a brother or sister.
