Vance

Vance ~ Marsh ~ Old English

Years ago, I was in love with all names that started with V. We lived near a street named Vance, and I thought I'd just found the perfect baby name. Vance manages to be unusual and traditional at the same time, and with its familiar sound and one-syllable appeal, I still think Vance is pretty close to perfect.

Victoria

Victoria ~ Victory ~ Latin

When I think of a beautiful, classic baby name, Victoria is one of the first to come to mind. Its strong roots and royal connections make it a stable and lovely choice with a sophisticated air.

History
Victoria is the name of the Roman goddess of victory. She was an integral part of Roman culture, reflected in the temples built in her honor and the homage paid to her with everyday items like coins and jewelry. She was the personification of victory, and was worshiped as such by generals as well as the rest of roman society.

Victoria was also the name of a 4th century saint from North Africa, but the name was seldom used until much later. Queen Victoria of England, for whom the Victorian Era is named, sparked interest in the name for English-speaking countries in the mid-to-late 1800s. After her death in 1901, the name dropped a little in popularity. Then in the 40s the name got its stride back, something I attribute to WWII. Victory was on the minds of all, and the Victoria Cross is England's most honorable award for valor in war. What's more, the variation Vicky fit with other spirited names of the time like Peggy, Betty, and Shirley.

Popularity
Just like the name suggests, Victoria has earned a triumphant top-ranking spot in popularity. It has been in the top 20 since 1991 and I don't see it losing momentum any time soon. Victoria will remain a classic girls' name even if it does drop a little in the long-term. It's elegant and well-established, it has a nice sound, and lots of variations that will keep the name appealing no matter the time period.

Variations

• Ria
• Roria
• Tori
• Torie, Torrey, Tory 
• Toria
• Vicki, Vicky, Vikki
• Victoriana
• Victorina
• Victorine
• Victory,
• Vitoria, Vittoria

Celebrities and Places Named Victoria

• Celebrities named Victoria (or a variation of Victoria):
  Victoria Abril
  Victoria Beckham
  Victoria Brooks
  Victoria Hamilton
  Victoria Matthews
  Victoria Principal
  Victoria Recaño
  Tori Spelling
  Tori Amos
  Vicky Hurst
  Vicki Lawrence
• Celebrities who chose Victoria for their child's name:
  Muhammad Ali
  Milton Berle
  Betty Grable
  Julio Iglesias
  Paul Schaffer
  Danielle Steel
• Places named Victoria:
  Victoria is the name of a state in Australia
  Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada
  Victoria, Minnesota
  Victoria, Texas

Violet

updated Sept 2015

Violet ~ the Flower ~ Latin

There are a lot of pretty flower names for girls, but my favorite happens to be Violet. I love the color it brings to mind and the unique sounds in the name. It's gorgeous and girly and delicate; while the nickname Vi is spunky and glamorous. I love everything about it.

History
Violet was used in Scotland and other European countries as early as the 16th century. Viola, a variation of the name, was a character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written in 1601. In the US, Violet was part of the floral name craze of the early 20th century. It was ranked in the top 100s at #74 in 1919, a number that's been challenged again today.

Popularity and Trends
Violet fits in with a few trends—it's got vintage charm, it's a nature name, it's a color name, and it begins with an interesting letter. When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner chose this name for their first baby, it was already on the rise. But I have a feeling little Violet Affleck is one of the biggest reasons the name rose more than 100 spots after her birth and is still rising today.

A girl named Violet is likely to feel a personal connection to the flower and the color. I can just imagine she would like a bedroom decorated with violet flower pictures and her bedspread in violet hues. How cute would that be?

• Violet is ranked at #67 for 2014.

Variations

• Vi or Vy
• Violetta
• Violette

Fictional Characters

• Violet Bick, from the movie It's a Wonderful Life
• Violet, a character in the Peanuts comic strip
• Violet Baudelaire, a character from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
• Violet Beauregarde, a character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Violet Parr, a character in the Pixar movie The Incredibles
• Dr. Violet Turner, a character in the TV show Private Practice
• Violet, a character in the 1980's cartoon Rainbow Brite