Virgilio

Meaning & origin

Virgilio is the Romance-language form of the Latin name Vergilius, best known as the surname of the Roman poet Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro). Though the name's etymology is uncertain, its literary associations have given it a lasting presence in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. In the United States, Virgilio first appeared in records in 1916 and reached its peak popularity in 1971. After a period of decline, it has been rising again since 2011. In 2025, it ranked 7,194th and was given to approximately 1 in every 155,280 newborn boys, reflecting its continued but niche use among families with Italian or Hispanic heritage.

Virgilio is the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of the Latin name Vergilius (also spelled Virgilius), the family name of the Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil). The meaning is uncertain; it may be derived from Latin 'virga' meaning 'branch' or 'rod', or from an Etruscan root. The poet Virgil's association with the name has given it literary prestige, and it has been used in his honor across Romance-speaking Europe since the Renaissance.