Virgil
Boy name · #1409 in 2025 · Rare
In 2025, 129 baby boys were named Virgil, placing it at #1409 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2036, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,953 boys born in 2025 was named Virgil.
The 145-year story
Virgil first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 81 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 1,830 boys were named Virgil — good for #98 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Virgil per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Virgil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Virgil in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Virgil is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Virgil will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Virgil is most common
State-level data for Virgil is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Virgil
Statistically, parents drawn to Virgil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cecil, Vernon, Luther, Milton, and Lester.
CecilVernonLutherMiltonLesterArnoldErnestEarl
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Virgil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 129 | #1409 |
| 2024 | 114 | #1540 |
| 2023 | 123 | #1465 |
| 2022 | 81 | #1917 |
| 2021 | 101 | #1645 |
| 2020 | 85 | #1778 |
| 2019 | 91 | #1723 |
| 2018 | 73 | #1994 |
| 2017 | 96 | #1644 |
| 2016 | 88 | #1754 |
| 2015 | 70 | #2036 |
| 2014 | 75 | #1920 |
| 2013 | 68 | #2009 |
| 2012 | 50 | #2488 |
| 2011 | 73 | #1905 |
| 2010 | 80 | #1816 |
| 2009 | 64 | #2119 |
| 2008 | 54 | #2374 |
| 2007 | 73 | #1928 |
| 2006 | 69 | #1943 |
| 2005 | 69 | #1854 |
| 2004 | 75 | #1701 |
| 2003 | 69 | #1749 |
| 2002 | 71 | #1660 |
| 2001 | 75 | #1591 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Virgil a popular boy name?
Virgil ranked #1409 among boys in 2025 with 129 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2036.
When was the name Virgil most popular?
Virgil peaked in 1921, when 1,830 American boys received the name (ranked #98 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Virgil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,953 newborn American boys was named Virgil. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.