The name Virginie is of French origin and means "pure" or "chaste." It is a variant spelling of the Latin name Virgo, which itself comes from the Latin word "virga," meaning "branch" or "rod."
The name has been popular in France for centuries, with the first recorded use dating back to the 12th century. In fact, it was the name of several French queens and saints throughout history, including Saint Virginie of Burgundy, who lived in the 7th century and is revered as a martyr.
In literature, the name Virginie has also been used by notable authors such as Voltaire and Daniel Defoe. In Voltaire's novella "Zadig," one of the main characters is named Virginie. Meanwhile, in Defoe's novel "Robinson Crusoe," the protagonist names his adoptive daughter Friday after her first day on the island, but later changes it to Virginie.
Today, Virginie remains a popular name in France and other French-speaking countries. While it may not be as commonly used in English-speaking countries, it is still considered a beautiful and meaningful name with a rich history behind it.
The statistics provided show the annual births of the name Virginie in the United States over several decades. It appears that the name was relatively popular during the early to mid-20th century, with a total of 68 babies being named Virginie between 1917 and 1999.
Interestingly, the name's popularity seems to have fluctuated over time. There were years when as many as seven babies were named Virginie (in 1930), while other years saw only five or six births with this name (such as in 1989 and 1999). Despite these variations, it is clear that the name Virginie has had a consistent, if modest, presence among baby names in the United States during this period.
It's also worth noting that there was a gap of several decades between the last recorded birth with the name Virginie (in 1999) and the most recent data available. This suggests that the popularity of the name may have declined or leveled off since then, although more recent statistics would be needed to confirm this trend.
Overall, these statistics provide an interesting snapshot into the historical use of the name Virginie in the United States, demonstrating its enduring but not overwhelming presence among baby names over several generations.