How popular is the baby name Verona in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Verona.

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Popularity of the baby name Verona


Posts that mention the name Verona

Where did the baby name Aleera come from in 2005?

The character Aleera from the movie "Van Helsing" (2004).
Aleera from “Van Helsing

Happy Halloween! Today let’s look at the name Aleera, which first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 2005:

  • 2007: 7 baby girls named Aleera
  • 2006: 8 baby girls named Aleera
  • 2005: 12 baby girls named Aleera [debut]
  • 2004: unlisted
  • 2003: unlisted

What put it there?

The action/gothic horror film Van Helsing, which was released in mid-2004.

Set in Transylvania in the 1880s, the movie and depicted legendary monster-hunter Gabriel Van Helsing (played by Hugh Jackman) battling Dracula and his three brides: Verona, Marishka, and Aleera.

All three vampire-brides were slayed over the course of the film — Marishka first, Verona second, and Aleera third. Because Aleera (played by Spanish actress Elena Anaya) lasted the longest, it seems logical to assume that she had the biggest influence on movie-going audiences.

The name Verona saw a slight rise in usage in 2004, and this could have been due to the film as well. Same with the name Marishka, though the even-steeper rise of Mariska makes me suspect that both names were influenced by SVU actress Mariska Hargitay rather than by Dracula’s bride.

What are your thoughts on the name Aleera? Which of the three brides’ names do you like most?

Sources: Van Helsing – Rotten Tomatoes, Van Helsing (film) – Wikipedia, SSA
Image: Screenshot of Van Helsing

Popular baby names in England and Wales (UK), 2016

Flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of the United Kingdom

According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the most popular baby names in England and Wales last year were Olivia and Oliver.

Here are the top 10 girl names and top 10 boy names of 2016:

Girl Names
1. Olivia, 5,017 baby girls
2. Amelia, 4,777
3. Emily, 3,551
4. Isla, 3,476
5. Ava, 3,285
6. Isabella, 2,729
7. Lily, 2,722
8. Jessica, 2,703
9. Ella, 2,702
10. Mia, 2,662

Boy Names
1. Oliver, 6,623 baby boys
2. Harry, 5,284
3. George, 5,263
4. Jack, 4,751
5. Jacob, 4,485
6. Noah, 4,305
7. Charlie, 4,190
8. Muhammad, 3,908
9. Thomas, 3,898
10. Oscar, 3,894

In 2015, the #1 names were Amelia and Oliver.

In the girls’ top 10, Lily replaced Poppy. In the boys’ top 10, Muhammad replaced William.

Finally, here are some of the rare baby names from the other end of the rankings. Each was given to exactly 3 babies in England and Wales last year.

Rare Girl NamesRare Boy Names
Adrijana, Barira, Clove, Damla, Eloghosa, Flossy, Ginika, Hivda, Irtiqa, Jadesola, Kisa, Lwsi, Merina, Niniola, Oracle, Petruta, Ronny, Sirin, Teuta, Umm, Verona, Winta, Xanthia, Yvette, ZelihaAthavan, Believe, Cuban, Danujan, Endeavour, Finton, Gilby, Hale, Inder, Jeston, Kleart, Lando, Mordche, Nosson, Otli, Pavith, Rune, Smit, Tishan, Ugnius, Vencel, Wilfie, Yanky, Zenith

Sources: Baby names in England and Wales: 2016, Girl name statistics, Boy name statistics

Image: Adapted from Flag of the United Kingdom (public domain)

Baby name needed: Girl name to go with Norah

A reader named Dacia needs a few name suggestions:

My husband and I have decided on Norah for a middle name (his grandmother’s name), but are having trouble coming up with a first name.

Both Norah and the baby’s surname, which starts with an F, are trochaic (stressed-unstressed)…so I made sure to throw in some names of other rhythms, for variation. Here’s what I came up with:

Adelia
Audrey
Beatrix
Bella
Camilla
Celeste
Charlotte
Daisy
Eugenie
Geneva
Grace
Harriet
Judith
Lilliana
Lucy
Miriam
Molly
Monica
Penelope
Rosella
Sadie
Stella
Sylvia
Trudy
Verona

Do you like any of the above with Norah? What other names would you suggest?