Violet pansies; Image via Wikipedia
She’s a vintage botanical in full bloom circa 2011.
Thanks to Heather for suggesting Violet as our Baby of the Name.
Violet is a shape-shifter. Like Lily and Rose, Violet has an antique, ladylike sweetness suited to a Victorian garden. But her vibrant V and open -o coupled with her -et ending give her a completely modern sound. More proof? One famous Violet has a little sis called Seraphina; another starbaby Violet shares a nursery with Harper.
Back to the flower: violet is iole in Greek and viola in Latin. It became viole in French, and then violette. The plant isn’t always purple, but since the fourteenth century, violet has applied to the color as well as the flower.
Some colorful figures have worn the name:
- Violet Jessop made a career as a stewardess aboard ocean liners, surviving the sinking of the Olympic. And the Titanic. And the Britannic, too. Despite a trio of near-misses in just a decade, she kept on working on ships for years. And they called Molly Brown unsinkable …
- Born Helen, but known by her middle name Violet, the Baroness Asquith was the daughter of a prime minister, a close confidante of Winston Churchill and grandmother to actress Helena Bonham Carter;
- Daisy and Violet Hilton were conjoined twins, and famous vaudeville performers in the 1930s;
- Violet Wilkey was a child star in the silent film era, appearing in dozens of films between 1913 and 1917, retiring at the age of fifteen.
The name’s resurgence has something to do with our affection for color names, for antique appellations, and for the letter V. But children’s literature and movies also probably play a part. A trio of noteworthy Violets has emerged in recent years:
- Violet Beauregard is the gum-chomping American girl who wins a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory along with Charlie Buckett, only to end up as a giant blueberry;
- Violet is one of the Baudelaire siblings, older sister to Klaus and Sunny in A Series of Unfortunate Events;
- Pixar’s The Incredibles told of a pair of super-powered parents and their three equally talented kids trying to blend in to world where not superheroes are not welcome. Firstborn Violet is a shy teenager who really can become invisible.
Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel and the 1971 film adaptation could’ve put Violet on the radar of a generation of future parents. The Baudelaire sibs debuted in 1999. By then, Violet had re-entered the rankings, and started her steady climb. Then came the birth of high profile Violets like the elder daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, and Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl and wife Jordyn Blum, too.
Lest you think she lacks an edge, there’s also Milla Jovovich’s turn as sci fi warrior Violet Song in 2006′s Ultraviolet.
No wonder that Violet had reached #123 by 2010.
I really like Violet. It sounds like it would last a lifetime, as nice for a baby girl as for the woman she’ll grow into.
I think Violet really does have an edge. One letter short of the word “violent” and sounding similar to “violate” makes this a rather dark name.
It’s chaste and yet somehow also seductive, like a sweet old great-aunt who used to be a chorus girl. It’s dainty and alluring; it’s hip and punk; it’s gloomy and Gothic.
As you say, it matches well with all kinds of siblings, and the T ending means it’s easier to find middle names for it than many other girl’s names (while also being good middle name material itself).
Versatile Violet!
My Aunt Violet was, hands down, my favorite Aunt. She wasn’t really Violet, that was what my Mom told us to call her. All my other cousins called her Auntie Val which baffled me as a kid, but I rolled with it. Come to find out, Violet’s name is actually Valeriana (or Valaria, depending on what you look at, document- wise). I still think of her as Violet, and I’ve got it in the middle to honor her in several combos on our list. I think it’s sweet & how better to honor the lady who treated me like the daughter she never had. Violet’s aces, no matter how popular she gets!
My grandmother’s given name was Violet, but she hated it! She always went by her middle name instead.
I really like Violet, and I actually don’t know of a single one IRL.
I like Violet best as a middle name. As a first name, Violet seems a bit too dated and there’s that association with the word violent that I hear sometimes and also the nickname “Vi” to avoid. But as a middle, for me at least, Violet is the flower — always pretty, always current. We have a toddler girl in our family named Jane Violet – I love the way Violet adds flair to the classic Jane.
Adore Violet — I think it’s a shame it’s become so trendy, because it means I probably can’t use it.
@Patricia — Jane Violet is lovely!
There’s something about Violet that’s just… yummy. I really like it. I don’t know any IRL, but I’ve known to Violas, both of whom went by Vi. (One was older than my grandmother, the other a classmate.)
I suppose this is a more evidence about how popular Violet was back in the day, but I too had a beloved Great-Aunt Violet. I always thought I’d have a daughter named Violet, but unfortunately, Violet Schw_____ sounds like violence, so the name doesn’t work for us. I adore meeting little Violets, because it’s such a exquisite name and the nickname Letty has such a spunky, tomboy quality.
I forgot about Letty. Our little Jane Violet was almost named Violet Jane and if so, her mother planned to call her “Letty”. (Mom REALLY WANTED Jane, her closest sister’s middle name, for the first name; Dad was routing for Violet , a name from his family tree.) I’d never before come across Letty as a nn for Violet, so I did some online research and found that It has been used as such for a very long time.
Evidence of Letty as a nickname for Violet since at least the 18th century:
Combs, Violet “Lettie” Birth : ABT 1750 Loudoun Co., Va.
” My name’s Violet,” said Lettie, with dignity. (From “Harry Muir: a story of Scottish life” – 19th century)
National Library of Ireland: c1918-34: correspondence with Violet (Letty) Dickinson (b. 1869, England)
Neil, Violet ‘Lettie’ M. b: 21 MAR 1875 in LaSalle, LaSalle, Illinois
Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland… her second daughter, Violet (Letty) (b. abt. 1890)
Purple is my favorite color, so all the purple hued names (Violet, Lilac, Lavender, etc.) are on my list. I especially like Violet. It has the old-lady chic vibe that I really love, plus that favorite color feel and its a sweet name. I never thought of Letty as a nickname, but I really like it. I shall have to keep it in mind!
I really like Violet, and I’m sad it’s become trendy. Nice associations, too, and Lettie is an adorable nickname.
Violet is on our short list if we have another little girl. I love it!
my niece Violet is awesome! She’s 11.
Love it, Nit allowed to use it. :/ I do know of a Violet Rose IRL. I would’ve hesitated to use two floral/color names.
That should’ve said “not”, not “nit”. Typing one-handed while the baby naps in my arms.
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