Vera Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: VEH-rah /ˈvɛrə/
Origin: Latin; Slavic
Meaning: Latin: truth; Slavic: faith
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Vera has its roots in the Latin word "verus," which means "true" or "genuine." This etymological lineage can be traced back to the early forms of the name in Latin, where it was used as a feminine given name. The transition into English occurred through various linguistic developments, particularly during the Renaissance, when classical names were revived and adopted into vernacular languages.
The name Vera became more widely recognized in English-speaking countries by the 19th century, although its use in Slavic cultures predates this, where it is often associated with the word for "faith" or "truth." Historically, the name Vera has been borne by various notable figures, including saints and literary characters. One significant milestone is the use of the name in the Christian tradition, where it has been associated with the virtue of truthfulness.
In the 19th century, Vera gained further prominence through literature and the arts, appearing in works by authors such as Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, which contributed to its cultural resonance in Slavic regions. The name also appeared in translations of biblical texts, where it was sometimes used to denote fidelity and truth, aligning with its Latin roots.
Culturally, Vera has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing integrity and sincerity. In Slavic cultures, the name is celebrated for its connection to faith and truth, making it a popular choice for girls.
The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its positive connotations and the simplicity of its pronunciation across different languages. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Verochka in Russian reflect the affectionate and familial associations that the name carries, further embedding it in cultural practices and familial traditions.
Famous people named Vera
In this section, you will find notable people named Vera. 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 Vera who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Vera 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.
Vera Wang is a fashion designer best known for her wedding dresses, bridal collections, and collaborations with various brands.
Vera Farmiga is an actress and director best known for Up in the Air, The Conjuring, and Bates Motel.
Vera Brittain is a writer and pacifist best known for her memoir Testament of Youth, her essays, and her activism during World War I.
Vera Lynn is a singer and actress best known for her songs during World War II, including We'll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover.
Vera Miles is an actress best known for her roles in Psycho, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Vera Chytilová is a film director best known for Daisies, The Fruit of Paradise, and her contributions to the Czech New Wave.
Fictional characters named Vera
The following list of fictional characters named Vera 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.
Vera Donovan is a fictional character from the novel 'Needful Things' by Stephen King. She is a mysterious and influential figure in the town of Castle Rock, often associated with dark events and secrets.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Vera, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Vera. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Vera was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Vera has ranked as high as #116 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Vera has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Vera 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 Vera was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Vera (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 113 | |
| FL | 85 | |
| NY | 84 | |
| TX | 82 | |
| PA | 71 | |
| OH | 66 | |
| IL | 59 | |
| IN | 45 | |
| MA | 44 | |
| NJ | 35 | |
| NC | 34 | |
| VA | 33 | |
| WI | 33 | |
| MN | 33 | |
| MO | 31 |
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 Vera.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,351 |
| 2023 | 1,333 |
| 2022 | 1,339 |
| 2021 | 1,310 |
| 2020 | 1,221 |
| 2019 | 1,284 |
| 2018 | 1,264 |
| 2017 | 1,160 |
| 2016 | 1,059 |
| 2015 | 1,054 |
| 2014 | 891 |
| 2013 | 721 |
| 2012 | 615 |
| 2011 | 573 |
| 2010 | 431 |
| 2009 | 306 |
| 2008 | 254 |
| 2007 | 208 |
| 2006 | 161 |
| 2005 | 154 |
| 2004 | 125 |
| 2003 | 101 |
| 2002 | 104 |
| 2001 | 96 |
| 2000 | 103 |
| 1999 | 64 |
| 1998 | 102 |
| 1997 | 66 |
| 1996 | 80 |
| 1995 | 64 |
| 1994 | 92 |
| 1993 | 103 |
| 1992 | 99 |
| 1991 | 98 |
| 1990 | 101 |
| 1989 | 104 |
| 1988 | 93 |
| 1987 | 108 |
| 1986 | 112 |
| 1985 | 129 |
| 1984 | 127 |
| 1983 | 147 |
| 1982 | 166 |
| 1981 | 164 |
| 1980 | 161 |
| 1979 | 177 |
| 1978 | 164 |
| 1977 | 184 |
| 1976 | 183 |
| 1975 | 219 |
| 1974 | 194 |
| 1973 | 225 |
| 1972 | 252 |
| 1971 | 296 |
| 1970 | 365 |
| 1969 | 356 |
| 1968 | 388 |
| 1967 | 461 |
| 1966 | 454 |
| 1965 | 534 |
| 1964 | 639 |
| 1963 | 707 |
| 1962 | 730 |
| 1961 | 862 |
| 1960 | 900 |
| 1959 | 971 |
| 1958 | 976 |
| 1957 | 1,050 |
| 1956 | 1,150 |
| 1955 | 1,170 |
| 1954 | 1,219 |
| 1953 | 1,192 |
| 1952 | 1,090 |
| 1951 | 1,111 |
| 1950 | 1,112 |
| 1949 | 1,114 |
| 1948 | 1,149 |
| 1947 | 1,218 |
| 1946 | 1,206 |
| 1945 | 1,143 |
| 1944 | 1,188 |
| 1943 | 1,266 |
| 1942 | 1,317 |
| 1941 | 1,266 |
| 1940 | 1,322 |
| 1939 | 1,411 |
| 1938 | 1,412 |
| 1937 | 1,496 |
| 1936 | 1,513 |
| 1935 | 1,813 |
| 1934 | 1,837 |
| 1933 | 1,865 |
| 1932 | 2,023 |
| 1931 | 2,161 |
| 1930 | 2,491 |
| 1929 | 2,549 |
| 1928 | 2,842 |
| 1927 | 2,942 |
| 1926 | 3,152 |
| 1925 | 3,280 |
| 1924 | 3,476 |
| 1923 | 3,375 |
| 1922 | 3,510 |
| 1921 | 3,631 |
| 1920 | 3,785 |
| 1919 | 3,848 |
| 1918 | 3,923 |
| 1917 | 3,714 |
| 1916 | 3,622 |
| 1915 | 3,460 |
| 1914 | 2,683 |
| 1913 | 2,209 |
| 1912 | 1,974 |
| 1911 | 1,510 |
| 1910 | 1,346 |
| 1909 | 1,242 |
| 1908 | 1,204 |
| 1907 | 1,152 |
| 1906 | 1,083 |
| 1905 | 1,053 |
| 1904 | 993 |
| 1903 | 899 |
| 1902 | 947 |
| 1901 | 860 |
| 1900 | 1,024 |
| 1899 | 864 |
| 1898 | 876 |
| 1897 | 776 |
| 1896 | 675 |
| 1895 | 729 |
| 1894 | 618 |
| 1893 | 534 |
| 1892 | 486 |
| 1891 | 426 |
| 1890 | 393 |
| 1889 | 313 |
| 1888 | 263 |
| 1887 | 167 |
| 1886 | 167 |
| 1885 | 124 |
| 1884 | 91 |
| 1883 | 77 |
| 1882 | 67 |
| 1881 | 48 |
| 1880 | 48 |