Virgil
Virgil was the 1417th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 129 babies. Its best year was 1907, when it ranked 93rd; the most babies were born in 1921 (1,830). Over the last ten years it has moved up 635 places. More babies were named Virgil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, Etruscan
Say it VUR-jil /ˈvɝdʒəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,417 boys, up 370 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 129boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19211,830 babies
- Total since 1880
- 73,453babies recorded
What does the name Virgil mean?
Virgil is the English name of the Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro (70–19 BC), author of the Aeneid. Vergilius was a Roman clan name; both DMNES and Wiktionary say its meaning is unknown, and it may be Etruscan. DMNES notes that the poet's renewed fame in the Renaissance spread the name, and that Irish writers sometimes used the Latin form for the Irish name Fergal. In English it has been given as a first name mostly in America since the 19th century.
Vergilius (Latin, “Roman clan name of unknown meaning”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The source (a Roman clan name) is clear; its meaning is unknown.
Related names: Vergil, Virgilio.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Virgil', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Virgil', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Virgil (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Virgil popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,444 since 1888.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,417 | 129 |
| 2020 | #1,787 | 85 |
| 2010 | #1,830 | 80 |
| 2000 | #1,723 | 66 |
| 1990 | #807 | 159 |
| 1980 | #617 | 203 |
| 1970 | #397 | 408 |
| 1960 | #296 | 687 |
| 1950 | #234 | 786 |
| 1940 | #166 | 938 |
| 1930 | #128 | 1,371 |
| 1920 | #101 | 1,711 |
| 1910 | #111 | 280 |
| 1900 | #111 | 212 |
| 1890 | #142 | 100 |
| 1880 | #164 | 81 |
How popular is Virgil, counting every spelling?
Virgil is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,244 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,417 for Virgil on its own. Together these spellings went to 148 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil | 129 | #1,417 | 548 |
| Vergil | 19 | #5,191 | 83 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Virgil?
129 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Virgil (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Virgil 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 65 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Virgil.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Virgil?
About 21,600 people born in the US named Virgil are alive today, with a median age of 65; half are between 50 and 76. That makes Virgil 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.
Virgil by state
How common Virgil was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 37 states fewer than five boys 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 Virgil: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Virgil, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Virgil · Sibling names for Virgil
Questions about the name Virgil
What does Virgil mean?
The origin of Virgil is uncertain: the source (a Roman clan name) is clear; its meaning is unknown.
How popular is the name Virgil?
Virgil was the 1417th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 129 babies. Its best year was 1907, when it ranked 93rd; the most babies were born in 1921 (1,830). Over the last ten years it has moved up 635 places. More babies were named Virgil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Virgil a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Virgil in the US.
Where is Virgil most popular?
In 2021–2025, Virgil was most common in Arizona (0.09 per 1,000 boys), followed by Colorado and California.