Given name & surname
Vi
“resembling the purplishblue flower”·“white lady”·“one who is full of life; vibrant”
In English use, Vi is a short form of Violet. One French interpretation is “resembling the purplishblue flower.” In English use, Vi is a short form of Vivian. Interpretations include “white lady”, “one who is full of life; vibrant” (Latin), and “one who is full of life” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Vi is a short form of Violet. One French interpretation is “resembling the purplishblue flower.” In English use, Vi is a short form of Vivian. Interpretations include “white lady”, “one who is full of life; vibrant” (Latin), and “one who is full of life” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Vi is a diminutive of Viola. An origin associated with Viola is Latin. In English use, Vi is a short form of Violet. An origin associated with Violet is French. In English use, Vi is a short form of Vivian. Vivian has been associated with Old French, Latin, and Irish Gaelic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Vi is used as a shortened form of Violet.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Vi is a diminutive of Viola. The history of Viola gives this family its wider story. Shakespeare used Viola for the heroine of Twelfth Night. Viola’s Latin flower meaning and its later association with the English flower name both form part of its appeal and naming history. In English use, Vi is a short form of Vivian. The history of Vivian gives this family its wider story. Vivian’s historical associations include a 5th-century bishop of Saintes in western France.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Vi through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,087
- 125 boys · 962 girls
- Most popular year
- 1982
- 41 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #14,813 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −7%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 14,813 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 31 in 1982. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,761 as a first name in 2020; 801 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Vi’s family of names
Vi is a short form of Vivian. In English usage, Vi is a diminutive of Violet. Vi is a short form of Violet.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Vi
- Wellington KooDiplomat and former President of the Republic of China1888–1985
- Vi ReddAmerican jazz altosaxophonist, singer and educator (1928–2022)
- Vi HartAmerican recreational mathematicianborn 1988
- Vi LylesAmerican politicianborn 1952
- Vi Farrellcricketer (1913-1989)
Characters named Vi: Vi (playable character from the game League of Legends).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Vi, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ambur
“resembling the jewel; a warm honey color”
>99% girls
Sydnie
“from the wide meadow” · “of the wide meadow”
>99% girls
Sidnee
“of the wide meadow” · “from the wide meadow”
>99% girls
Inda
“from the river; woman from India”
>99% girls
Holli
“of the holly tree” · “near the valley of the holly bushes”
>99% girls
Amberia
“resembling the jewel; a warm honey color”
>99% girls
Randi
“the wolf shield” · “lustful”
1% boys · 99% girls
Amberly
“resembling the jewel; a warm honey color”
>99% girls