Verna
Verna was the 3513th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 44 babies. Its best year was 1906, when it ranked 117th; the most babies were born in 1918 (1,873). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,932 places. More babies were named Verna in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, English
Say it VUR-nuh /ˈvɝnə/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,513 girls, up 1,128 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 44girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19181,873 babies
- Total since 1880
- 69,638babies recorded
What does the name Verna mean?
Verna is a name coined in the 19th century. Wiktionary gives two possible sources: the Latin vernus, "of spring", or a feminine of the name Vernon (a Norman place-name surname meaning "alder grove"). Which was in the minds of the parents who first used it is not documented. Verna was a common American name in the early 20th century.
vernus (Latin, “of spring”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. A 19th-century coinage; both Latin vernus "spring-like" and Vernon are proposed sources.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Verna', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Vernon', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
Verna popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 525 since 1883.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,513 | 44 |
| 2020 | #4,641 | 29 |
| 2010 | #6,370 | 21 |
| 2000 | #3,884 | 33 |
| 1990 | #3,295 | 34 |
| 1980 | #1,935 | 56 |
| 1970 | #757 | 195 |
| 1960 | #421 | 532 |
| 1950 | #292 | 719 |
| 1940 | #204 | 865 |
| 1930 | #151 | 1,359 |
| 1920 | #135 | 1,851 |
| 1910 | #130 | 626 |
| 1900 | #143 | 412 |
| 1890 | #145 | 244 |
| 1880 | #231 | 46 |
How popular is Verna, counting every spelling?
Verna has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Verna?
44 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Verna (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Verna born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 191 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Verna.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Verna?
About 17,200 people born in the US named Verna are alive today, with a median age of 73; half are between 63 and 82. That makes Verna a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Verna by state
How common Verna was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (10.6×). In 49 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Verna: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Verna, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Verna · Sibling names for Verna
Questions about the name Verna
What does Verna mean?
The origin of Verna is uncertain: a 19th-century coinage; both Latin vernus "spring-like" and Vernon are proposed sources.
How popular is the name Verna?
Verna was the 3513th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 44 babies. Its best year was 1906, when it ranked 117th; the most babies were born in 1918 (1,873). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,932 places. More babies were named Verna in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Verna a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Verna in the US.
Where is Verna most popular?
In 2021–2025, Verna was most common in Pennsylvania (0.21 per 1,000 girls), followed by Ohio and Ohio.