Virgil
Boy name · #1409 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Virgil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Virgil in class?
Virgil scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Virgil is most common
Geography matters for names, and Virgil is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Virgils were CA (14), TX (14), AZ (8), FL (6), NC (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.