The baby name Verity blends a virtuous meaning with a dash of pop culture currencty.
Thanks to Ella for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME VERITY MEAN?
The baby name Verity comes with a straightforward meaning: truth.
It’s not quite a word name. But it comes from the Latin veritas, which comes from verus. Thanks to phrases like in vino veritas and countless school mottoes, it’s broadly familiar to many.
Verity sounds like it’s part of the Protestant tradition favoring virtue names. We imagine Mercy at home on Plymouth Rock, siblings in black button shoes with serious expressions.
Except that such names weren’t actually the norm. Some children answered to names like Love and Resolved, clearly inspired by their parents’ faith. But most settlers answered to John and Elizabeth and Richard – the common names of the day.
There were girls named Verity, though, amongst Puritan parents. And the name does fit with that moment in naming history. It means truth, and it is true that Verity comes out of a very specific naming moment – at least sometimes.
BRITISH(ISH)
The baby name Verity also leans vaguely British.
A few noteworthy uses include:
- Madonna made a cameo as a fencing instructor in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. Her character was Verity, opposite Pierce Brosnan as Bond.
- In one of the later Harry Potter books, Verity is a sales clerk in the Fred and George Weasley’s shop on Diagon Alley.
- ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale used the character name.
- Verity Charlton was seen on the Australian soap Neighbours.
- One more from television: drama series Poldark gave us Verity, cousin to Ross.
- Verity Sharp is a radio presenter in England.
- Sci fi fans everywhere owe a debt to Verity Lambert, the British TV producer responsible for the very first series of the BBC’s legendary Doctor Who back in the 1960s.
VERITY AS A SURNAME
A number of notables have answered to the last name Verity. In most cases, it evolved from a nickname for a person known for their honesty and good judgement.
Elsie Verity taught British soldiers how to drive for the first World War, then took over and expanded her father’s garage to include driving lessons. Later she showed yet another generation of British men to drive for the second World War, as well as teaching mechanics and repair.
Surnames like Verty and Varty might also come from the same roots.
In addition, it’s been used as the name of a ship and at least one sculpture.
21st CENTURY NAME
In the US, Verity is gaining in use thanks to a series of pop culture moments.
Elizabeth Wein’s 2012 YA novel Code Name Verity follows a young British woman, Julie, who volunteers as a spy in World War II France.
Then came Colleen Hoover’s 2018 novel,Verity. The story focuses on struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh. She’s recruited to finish the novels of the successful writer Verity Crawford. The latter is beautiful, talented, and currently in a coma following a serious car accident. Lowen uncovers all sorts of secrets … but maybe never quite finds the truth.
Hoover’s novel became a 2026 movie featuring Anne Hathaway in the title role.
Possibly strangest of all the uses? In 2026, YouTuber ThatMob created an animated horror series within the Minecraft world. It’s called Verity, a character represented by a bright yellow smiley face.
Can an internet meme boost a baby name? Probably not … but it can certainly raise our awareness of the name’s existence, especially when coupled with a major motion picture.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME VERITY?
The baby name Verity has never ranked in the United States Top 1000.
In England and Wales, the name generally hovers in the Top 500, often in the Top 400.
As of 2025, 145 girls were named Verity. That marks a new high, but is still well outside of the 253 births required for a name to break into the Top 1000 charts.
WEARABLE VIRTUE NAME
Overall, the first name Verity feels very wearable.
It shortens nicely to nicknames like Vee and Vera.
The three-syllables, ends with “ee” pattern works for names like Avery and Emily, Melody and Leilani.
The movie and the meme might raise this name’s profile just enough to make parents trade Felicity or Kennedy, Vivian or Elodie for Verity instead.
And if virtue names are your favorites? Then it’s a rock solid alternative to long-time favorites like Grace
What do you think of the baby name Verity?
First published on July 26, 2008, this post was revised on April 2, 2025 and again on October 12, 2026.
Would you do an update on this name? I’m seeing Verity more and more in books, such as Verity Kent, a main character in a cozy mystery series, and I think it would be interesting to note some of those references.
I have a friend called Verity which is how I discovered the name. I love both the meaning and the sound of the name.
I love the name Verity. Although the first time i heard it used as a name was for a boy, and now i see it as a boy’s name, and is strange to be heard for a girl. It still doesn’t change the fact i love it
My name is Verity, Emma and I love it! I am now 14 and It has suited me since I was born. Ever since I was a baby I have been getting compliments. I have dark brown hair and I dont think Verity is a name thats suits a blonde child.
Lovely meaning!
I find Verity to be very charming. It’s a pretty sound and a pretty meaning. I also think she’s more modern and less fussy than Felicity. I’m not much of a virtue name sort of girl myself, but I thoroughly appreciate Verity and Mercy as virtue names for the new millennium.
I like Verity. It’s a pretty name, and I’d love to see it over a Grace or Faith anyday. Vera would be a lovely nickname for Verity, but I think it’s nice as a stand alone name. I’ve never quite known how to pronouce it either; I’ve always though it was VAIR-a.
I also like Vrai, the literal French word for truth. If parents are looking for a different, underused one-syllable virtue middle name, Vrai would definitely be a better choice that Faith or Hope.
I say veer-ah for Vera. I used to work with one, years ago and that’s how she said it. 🙂
I thoroughly like Verity, nickname potential or not. I like her meaning and find it more “needed now” than Grace or Faith (Amity’s another favorite). I like Verity’s warmth and verve very much. I find her peppy, spunky and happy. Verity gets a :thumsup: from me! Lovely!
You mentioned Vera as a nickname for Verity. But I’ve always struggled with the pronunciation of Vera. Is it Veer-a or Vair-a (rhymes with Fair-a)?