Verity is a unique and uncommon given name of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English word "vertu," which means "virtue." In turn, this word is derived from the Old French word "vertut," meaning "moral excellence" or "goodness."
The name Verity was likely used as a virtue name during the Middle Ages in England, when such names were popular. Virtue names were given to children with the hope that they would grow up to embody the qualities represented by their names.
One of the earliest known records of the name Verity is from the 14th century, when it was used as a woman's name in English literature. However, it did not become particularly common until the late 20th century, when it began to be used more frequently in England and other English-speaking countries.
Despite its recent rise in popularity, Verity remains a relatively rare name. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it has never ranked among the top 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States. This makes it a distinctive choice for parents looking for an uncommon but meaningful name for their daughter.
In summary, Verity is a beautiful and unique English given name with a historic pedigree dating back to the Middle Ages. With its lovely sound and positive meaning, it's easy to see why this name has seen increased use in recent years despite remaining relatively rare overall.
The name Verity has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. Between 1966 and 2023, there were a total of 1594 births registered with the first name Verity.
While the name was relatively uncommon during the 1960s and 1970s, with fewer than 8 births per year, it began to gain traction in the late 1970s. Between 1977 and 1985, there were between 6 and 20 births each year.
The 1990s marked a turning point for the name Verity, with an average of around 10 births per year. This trend continued into the early 2000s, with between 12 and 19 births recorded annually between 2000 and 2006.
Since 2007, there has been a steady increase in the number of babies named Verity in the United States. Between 2007 and 2023, there were between 29 and 117 births each year, with the highest number recorded in 2023.
This data demonstrates that while Verity was once a rare name, it has since become more popular among parents in the United States. The consistent increase in births over the past two decades suggests that this trend is likely to continue in the coming years.