Girl · #4,960 in 2026

Virga

A virga, also called a dry storm, is an observable streak or shaft of precipitation that evaporates or sublimates before reaching the ground. A shaft of precipitation that does not evaporate before reaching the ground is known in meteorology as a precipitation shaft. At high altitudes, precipitation falls mainly as ice crystals before melting and finally evaporating.

Current Rank
#4,960
Peak Rank
#3,664 (1925)
Total Babies
64
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1914
First Year
1946
Last Year
1925
Peak Year
#3664
Peak Rank
64
Total Count
11
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Virga

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

A virga, also called a dry storm, is an observable streak or shaft of precipitation that evaporates or sublimates before reaching the ground. A shaft of precipitation that does not evaporate before reaching the ground is known in meteorology as a precipitation shaft. At high altitudes, precipitation falls mainly as ice crystals before melting and finally evaporating.

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

Etymology
The word is derived from the Latin virga , meaning rod, sprig, staff, branch, shoot, twig, spray, sprout, switch or graft.

The Story of Virga

Virga first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1925, when 8 Virgas were born — ranking #3,664 that year. As of 2026, Virga ranks #4,960 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 64 Virgas 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
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Virga

Phonetically similar names — useful when Virga 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 Virga

What does the name Virga mean?
A virga, also called a dry storm, is an observable streak or shaft of precipitation that evaporates or sublimates before reaching the ground. A shaft of precipitation that does not evaporate before reaching the ground is known in meteorology as a precipitation shaft. At high altitudes, precipitation falls mainly as ice crystals before melting and finally evaporating.
How popular is Virga in 2026?
In 2026, Virga ranks #4,960 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Virga most popular?
Virga reached its peak popularity in 1925, ranking #3,664 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Virga a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Virga is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Virga?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Virga include Creasie, Burley, Cona. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Virga

Virga is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 64 births in the dataset. Virga's peak popularity came in 1925 when it ranked #3,664. Use the chart and map above to compare Virga'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.