Lavinia Girl

Popularity: #868 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: lah-VIN-ee-uh /ləˈvɪn.i.ə/

Origin: Latin; Italian

Meaning: Latin: 'purity'; Italian: 'life'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lavinia has its roots in ancient Roman history and is believed to derive from the Latin word "lavare," meaning "to wash." This etymology suggests a connection to purity or cleanliness, which may have been significant in Roman culture. The name is most famously associated with Lavinia, the daughter of King Latinus in Virgil's epic poem, the "Aeneid," composed in the 1st century BCE.

In this work, Lavinia is portrayed as a pivotal character in the story of Aeneas, the Trojan hero, symbolizing the union of the Trojans and the Latins, which is a foundational myth for the Roman people. Throughout history, Lavinia has appeared in various literary and artistic works, contributing to its cultural significance.

The name was also borne by Lavinia Fontana, a prominent Italian painter of the late 16th century, known for her portraits and religious works, which helped to elevate the name's status in the Renaissance period. Additionally, Lavinia has been referenced in Shakespeare's play "Titus Andronicus," written in the late 16th century, where the character Lavinia endures tragic circumstances, further embedding the name in the literary canon.

The name carries connotations of nobility and virtue, often associated with themes of loyalty and sacrifice due to its historical and literary connections. In various cultures, Lavinia has been embraced as a symbol of strength and resilience, reflecting the character's trials and tribulations in classical literature.

The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as Vinnie, which have been used in different contexts, although the original form remains the most recognized. Overall, Lavinia's enduring presence in literature and history underscores its significance as a name with deep cultural roots.

Famous people named Lavinia

In this section, you will find notable people named Lavinia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lavinia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Lavinia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Lavinia Fontana is a painter best known for her portraits, religious works, and mythological scenes.

Lavinia Goodell is an attorney best known for being the first woman to practice law in Wisconsin.

Lavinia Warren is a performer best known for her marriage to General Tom Thumb and her work in P.T. Barnum's circus.

Fictional characters named Lavinia

The following list of fictional characters named Lavinia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Lavinia is a fictional character from the play The Aeneid by Virgil. She is the daughter of King Latinus and becomes the wife of Aeneas, playing a crucial role in the founding of what would become Rome.

Lavinia is a fictional character from the novel Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin. She is the titular character who is reimagined from the mythological figure in The Aeneid, exploring her thoughts and experiences in a male-dominated narrative.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lavinia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LydiaLuciaLeonaLilaLaraLana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lavinia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SeraphinaOctaviaCeciliaAdrianaValentinaIsadoraOpheliaAnastasia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lavinia was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Lavinia has ranked as high as #1402 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Lavinia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lavinia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lavinia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lavinia.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 80 80
2024 89 89
2023 78 78
2022 89 89
2021 69 69
2020 60 60
2019 66 66
2018 62 62
2017 67 67
2016 75 75
2015 63 63
2014 54 54
2013 71 71
2012 54 54
2011 39 39
2010 35 35
2009 34 34
2008 28 28
2007 36 36
2006 23 23
2005 28 28
2004 33 33
2003 20 20
2002 23 23
2001 22 22
2000 17 17
1999 21 21
1998 15 15
1997 12 12
1996 15 15
1995 18 18
1994 16 16
1993 14 14
1992 19 19
1991 21 21
1990 20 20
1989 17 17
1988 15 15
1987 22 22
1986 20 20
1985 23 23
1984 24 24
1983 21 21
1982 15 15
1981 19 19
1980 21 21
1979 32 32
1978 33 33
1977 27 27
1976 38 38
1975 34 34
1974 33 33
1973 51 51
1972 36 36
1971 32 32
1970 34 34
1969 42 42
1968 32 32
1967 42 42
1966 46 46
1965 40 40
1964 42 42
1963 40 40
1962 35 35
1961 26 26
1960 35 35
1959 33 33
1958 30 30
1957 48 48
1956 35 35
1955 25 25
1954 50 50
1953 37 37
1952 33 33
1951 32 32
1950 39 39
1949 33 33
1948 47 47
1947 36 36
1946 45 45
1945 31 31
1944 29 29
1943 20 20
1942 39 39
1941 34 34
1940 36 36
1939 27 27
1938 36 36
1937 26 26
1936 35 35
1935 44 44
1934 36 36
1933 38 38
1932 47 47
1931 48 48
1930 45 45
1929 60 60
1928 63 63
1927 70 70
1926 59 59
1925 66 66
1924 66 66
1923 89 89
1922 82 82
1921 93 93
1920 92 92
1919 82 82
1918 86 86
1917 75 75
1916 78 78
1915 67 67
1914 63 63
1913 46 46
1912 29 29
1911 24 24
1910 28 28
1909 33 33
1908 33 33
1907 32 32
1906 26 26
1905 24 24
1904 33 33
1903 25 25
1902 34 34
1901 29 29
1900 41 41
1899 25 25
1898 36 36
1897 26 26
1896 29 29
1895 32 32
1894 34 34
1893 27 27
1892 37 37
1891 27 27
1890 27 27
1889 33 33
1888 22 22
1887 20 20
1886 35 35
1885 22 22
1884 20 20
1883 20 20
1882 18 18
1881 14 14
1880 21 21

Top States for Lavinia (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 10
21%
FL 8
17%
MA 7
15%
UT 6
13%
NY 6
13%
PA 6
13%
VA 5
10%