The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Violet!

Comments and insights on the name Violet: | Edit

We named our daughter Violet after the Afflecks did, but we were actually inspired by the Incredibles. The celeb baby namesake is a little disappointing, but our Violet probably won't run in the same circles with the Afflecks, so we're probably okay. Her nickname is Vie (as in "c'est la vie") - French for life and sounds sweet.

Personal experiences with the name Violet: | Edit

My daughter is named Violet, which was wonderful until Ben Affleck decided to give his kid the same name. I can't tell you how many times people say "Oh! Like Ben Affleck." Grrrr. *Edited to say that the association doesn't happen that much anymore, but did a lot when Affleck's kid & my daughter were both babies. My main problem with that is I gave my daughter an uncommon name on purpose. I think once a celebrity chooses a name for their child, it becomes trendy and a couple of years later everyone else decides to use it. That's exactly what I didn't want for my child. It's not uncommon to hear Violet in NYC, where I live, but I would really hate to see it in the top 100.

I have a new baby named Violet, and haven't received much of the Affleck feedback. Most people ask if it is a family name, as it is still very uncommon here in the Midwestern U.S. As the name gains popularity, I think the Affleck connection will fade. We also received a lot of purple clothing and potted violets when she was born, which we really liked.

Nicknames for Violet: | Edit

Letta, Lettie, Vi, V, Violetta, Viva

Meanings and history of the name Violet: | Edit

Violet is a spectral color, near indigo in the rainbow. Though based on experience in the early 2000's, people respond as though they are reminded of a flower.

Famous real-life people named Violet: | Edit

Violet Hilton (1908-1969), English conjoined twin, Vaudeville performer
Violet McNaughton (1879-1968), Canadian journalist
Violet Needham (1876-1967), English writer
Violet Jacob (1863-1946), Scottish poet
Violet Oakley (1874-1961), American artist
Violet Balestreri Archer (1913-2000), Canadian composer
Violet Jessop, ocean liner stewardess who survived the sinkings of the Titanic and the Brittanic
Violet Maye Grohl, daughter of Foo Fighters frontman/ former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl

Violet in song, story & screen: | Edit

Violet Beauregard from Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and both movies the book inspired.
Violet Alden was one of the "Boxcar Children" in the series written by American author Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Violet Bick was the saucy small-town girl in "Its A Wonderful Life".
Violet Gray was a character in Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" cartoons
Violet Parr is one of the central characters in "The Incredibles" (animated feature film).
Violet Elizabeth Bott, a lisping spoiled child from the English "Just William" stories, most famous for her refrain,"I'll thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick — I can, you know"
Dr. Violet Turner is a character on the TV show "Private Practice".
Violet Baudelaire, main character in Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series.
A college fraternity, SAE, has a "Violet" song.
Violet Sanford was the protagonist in the film "Coyote Ugly" played by Piper Perabo.