Girl · #3,869 in 2026

Venona

The Venona project was a United States counterintelligence program initiated during World War II by the United States Army's Signal Intelligence Service and later absorbed by the National Security Agency (NSA), that ran from February 1, 1943, until October 1, 1980. It was intended to decrypt messages transmitted by the intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union.

Current Rank
#3,869
Peak Rank
#2,900 (1915)
Total Babies
23
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1915
First Year
1918
Last Year
1915
Peak Year
#2900
Peak Rank
23
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Venona

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Venona project was a United States counterintelligence program initiated during World War II by the United States Army's Signal Intelligence Service and later absorbed by the National Security Agency (NSA), that ran from February 1, 1943, until October 1, 1980. It was intended to decrypt messages transmitted by the intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
During World War II and the early years of the Cold War , the Venona project was a source of information on Soviet intelligence-gathering directed at the Western military powers. Although unknown to the public, and even to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman , these programs were of importance concerning crucial events of the early Cold War. These included the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg spying case (which was based on events during World War II) and the defections of Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess to the Soviet Union . Most decipherable messages were transmitted and intercepte

The Story of Venona

Venona first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1915, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1915, when 9 Venonas were born — ranking #2,900 that year. As of 2026, Venona ranks #3,869 for baby girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 23 Venonas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
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SD
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OH
PA
NJ
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Venona

Phonetically similar names — useful when Venona is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Venona

What does the name Venona mean?
The Venona project was a United States counterintelligence program initiated during World War II by the United States Army's Signal Intelligence Service and later absorbed by the National Security Agency (NSA), that ran from February 1, 1943, until October 1, 1980. It was intended to decrypt messages transmitted by the intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union.
How popular is Venona in 2026?
In 2026, Venona ranks #3,869 among girls' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Venona most popular?
Venona reached its peak popularity in 1915, ranking #2,900 that year with 9 babies given the name.
Is Venona a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Venona is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Venona?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Venona include Litha, Vollie, Leler. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Litha
Peak #2900
👧
Vollie
Peak #2900
👧
Leler
Peak #2900
👧
Vance
Peak #2900
👧
Thera
Peak #2900
👧
Alletta
Peak #2900
👧
Roby
Peak #2900
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Lorenia
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About the name Venona

Venona is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1915 and has accumulated 23 births in the dataset. Venona's peak popularity came in 1915 when it ranked #2,900. Use the chart and map above to compare Venona's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.