V is a letter that produces names with a particular elegance. That initial V sound carries a vibration, a forward movement that gives names starting with it a quality of arrival and confidence. The V names for girls include classical names like Valentina and Vivienne, mythological names like Venus and Vesta, Celtic names like Viviane and Verónica, nature-inspired names like Viola and Verbena, and genuinely rare finds like Valkyrie and Vashti. Here is the full guide.
Table of Contents
Classic V Girl Names
Violet
From the flower and the colour. Violet has been in the top names in England and Wales for several years and shows no sign of retreating. It is botanical, warm and carries the specific quality of purple names alongside Lavender and Lilac. Shortens to Vi or Lettie.
Victoria
Latin, meaning “victory.” Victoria has carried the name of an empire, a queen and a century. As a given name it remains substantial, formal in its full form and warm in its shortened versions: Vicky, Vita, Tori or Vic.
Valentina
Latin, from valens, meaning “strong” or “healthy.” Valentina is the longer, more flowing form of Valentine. It is widely used in Latin American and Italian naming traditions and carries both the warmth of the Valentine association and the strength of its literal meaning.
Vivienne
French form of the Latin Viviana, meaning “alive” or “full of life.” Vivienne is elegant, French and carries both the Arthurian sorceress Viviane (the Lady of the Lake) and the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, giving it both mythological and cultural depth. Shortens to Viv.
Vera
Latin and Slavic, meaning “faith” or “truth.” Vera is short, warm and has the same vintage quality as other short classic names currently in revival. Vera Lynn gave it a specifically mid-century British warmth.
Virginia
Latin, from the Roman family name Virginius, possibly meaning “maiden” or “virginal.” Virginia Woolf gave this name its most significant literary association. It is formal, literary and shortens to Ginny or Ginn.
Pretty V Names for Girls
Viola
Latin, from the violet flower. Viola is the heroine of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a woman of resourcefulness and wit who disguises herself and navigates her own fate. It is musical (the viola is the middle string instrument of the orchestra) and botanical simultaneously.
Viviane
(viv-ee-ANN) The original French form of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend. Viviane raised Lancelot, imprisoned Merlin and gave Arthur his sword. She is one of the most significant women in the Arthurian tradition. As a given name she is rarer than Vivienne and specifically rooted in the medieval French romantic tradition.
Vesper
Latin, meaning “evening star” or “evening.” Vespers are the evening prayers in Catholic and Orthodox tradition. Vesper was notably used in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels as the name of Vesper Lynd, the Bond girl of Casino Royale. Rare, atmospheric and beautiful.
Vashti
(VASH-tee) Persian, the name of the first queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, who refused to appear before the king’s guests and was deposed for her refusal. Vashti is rare, biblical and carries the specific dignity of a woman who chose her own principles over compliance. As a given name she is almost entirely unused in modern contexts.
Velvet
From the rich fabric. Velvet as a given name is rare and tactile, carrying a specific warmth and texture in its sound.
Vega
From the Arabic wāqi’, meaning “falling” or “swooping eagle.” Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra and the fifth brightest in the night sky. As a given name it is celestial, short and carries the sky in its meaning.
Strong V Names for Girls
Valkyrie
(VAL-kir-ee) Old Norse, meaning “chooser of the slain.” The Valkyries were the divine shield maidens of Norse mythology who selected which warriors would die in battle and which would live. As a given name Valkyrie is rare, bold and carries the full force of Norse mythology.
Venus
The Roman goddess of love and beauty, the most beautiful of all the Olympians. Venus is short, divine and rarely used as a given name in English-speaking countries, though it is used in some European and Latin American naming traditions.
Vesta
The Roman goddess of the hearth and home, tended by the Vestal Virgins. Vesta is short, divine and carries a warmth (literally, the sacred fire) that most goddess names do not.
Vashti
Already noted. The Persian queen who chose dignity over compliance.
Vigdis
(VIG-dis) Old Norse, meaning “battle goddess” or “war deity.” Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the President of Iceland from 1980 to 1996, the world’s first democratically elected female head of state. The name is Scandinavian, formidable and carries that specific historical legacy.
Rare V Girl Names Worth Knowing
Vashti
Already noted. The refusal of a queen.
Vigdis
Already noted. The Icelandic president.
Valborg
(VAL-borg) Old Norse, meaning “powerful fortress” or “slaughter protection.” Valborg is Scandinavian, strong and almost entirely unused in English-speaking countries.
Verbena
From the fragrant herb. Verbena has a botanical and slightly Victorian quality. Very rarely used as a given name.
Vervain
From the sacred herb used in both Celtic and Roman religious practice. Vervain is a nature name at the unusual end of the botanical spectrum.
Vela
From the Latin for “sail” or the constellation Vela, a southern constellation that forms part of the former Argo Navis. Vela is celestial, short and rare as a given name.
V Girl Names Inspired by Nature
Violet
Already noted. The flower and colour.
Viola
Already noted. The violet flower and the instrument.
Verbena
Already noted. The fragrant herb.
Vervain
Already noted. The sacred herb.
Vetch
From the leguminous climbing plant found in British hedgerows. Vetch is very rarely used as a given name and carries a specifically rural British botanical quality.
Vine
From the climbing plant. Vine is gender-neutral and minimal, used very rarely as a given name.
V Girl Names From Mythology and Legend
Venus
Already noted. Roman goddess of love.
Vesta
Already noted. Roman goddess of the hearth.
Valkyrie
Already noted. Norse divine shield maidens.
Viviane
Already noted. The Lady of the Lake.
Veleda
A first-century Germanic prophetess of the Bructeri tribe who wielded enormous political authority. Veleda was recognised even by Rome as a significant religious and political leader. As a given name she is extraordinarily rare and carries a specifically Germanic historical tradition.
Vidofnir
(VID-of-nir) Old Norse mythology, the eagle that sits at the top of Yggdrasil, the world tree. The female companion figure in some Norse traditions. Used as a poetic concept name rather than a formal given name.
Short V Girl Names
- Vera — Already noted. Faith and truth.
- Vita — Latin, meaning “life.” Warm and minimal.
- Vega — Already noted. Celestial and brief.
- Vela — Already noted. Sail and constellation.
- Viv — Short form of Vivienne. Warm and direct.
- Vee — A diminutive used informally for multiple V names.
- Val — Short form of Valentina or Valerie. Warm and retro.
V Girl Names by Origin
Irish and Celtic
Viviane (Arthurian French-Celtic)
Greek and Roman
Venus, Vesta, Virginia, Victoria, Valentina, Vera (partly)
Latin and French
Violet, Viola, Vivienne, Vesper, Velvet
Old Norse and Germanic
Valkyrie, Vigdis, Valborg, Veleda
Hebrew and Biblical
Vashti
Celestial and Nature-rooted
Vega, Vela, Verbena, Vervain, Vine, Vetch
Frequently Asked Questions About V Girl Names
What are the most popular V girl names?
Violet consistently ranks among the most popular V girl names in the UK. Victoria and Valentina also appear regularly in naming charts.
What are rare V girl names?
Vashti, Vigdis, Valborg, Veleda, Vervain and Vesper are among the most genuinely uncommon V girl names with proper historical or mythological roots.
What middle names work with V girl names?
Long V names (Valentina, Vivienne, Victoria) suit short middles: Valentina Rose, Vivienne Faye. Short V names (Vera, Vita, Vega) work with longer middles: Vera Celestine, Vita Marguerite.
Final Thoughts
V girl names carry an elegance and confidence that come partly from the relative rarity of the letter itself. Most V names, even the widely used ones like Violet and Victoria, feel slightly less common than equivalent A or E names simply because there are fewer of them. For parents who want a name with a distinctive beginning, V offers both the warmth of the familiar and the depth of the genuinely rare.