Viola is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

, a variant of the given name

Violet Violet may refer to: Common meanings * Violet (color), a spectral color with wavelengths shorter than blue * One of a list of plants known as violet, particularly: ** ''Viola'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants Places United States * Viol ...

.Viola
Nameberry.com

List of people

Academics

* Viola Birss, Canadian professor of chemistry *

Viola Garfield Viola E. Garfield (December 5, 1899 – November 25, 1983) was an American anthropologist best known for her work on the social organization and plastic arts of the Tsimshian nation in British Columbia and Alaska. Early life Viola Edmundson was ...

, American anthropologist *

Viola Shelly Shantz Viola Shelly Schantz (1895–1977) was an American biologist and zoologist. She worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from 1918 to 1961, as a biological aide, biologist and systematic zoologist. Stationed at the Smithsonian I ...

, American biologist and zoologist

Activists

Viola Desmond Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946, she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refu ...

, (1914–1965), African-Nova Scotian civil rights figure * Viola Hashe (1926–1977), South African anti-apartheid activist * Viola Hill (1892-?), American suffragist and music director *

Viola Liuzzo Viola Fauver Liuzzo (née Gregg; April 11, 1925 – March 25, 1965) was an American civil rights activist. In March 1965, Liuzzo heeded the call of Martin Luther King Jr. and traveled from Detroit, Michigan, to Selma, Alabama, in the wake of the ...

, Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist * Viola Pitts, Fort Worth community activist

Aristocrats

Viola, Duchess of Opole Viola, Duchess of Opole, also known as Veleslava ( bg, Венцислава), pl, Wencisława-Wiola; (died 7 September 1251) was a Duchess consort of Opole-Racibórz through her marriage to Casimir I. Life Origins Viola's father's origins are ...

, 13th-century Bulgarian-Polish noble *

Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn Viola of Teschen, later known as Viola Elizabeth ( pl, Wiola Elżbieta cieszyńska, cs, Viola Alžběta Těšínská) (ca. 1291 – 21 September 1317), was Queen of Bohemia and Poland by marriage to Wenceslaus III of Bohemia. She was daughter o ...

, Queen of Bohemia and Poland *

Viola Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster Viola Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (10 June 1912 – 3 May 1987) was a British aristocrat who was the wife of Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster, the mother of Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster and the grandmother of Hugh Gros ...

, widow of Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster

Athletes

Viola Bauer Viola Bauer (born 13 December 1976 in Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony, East Germany) is a retired German cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2007. She has won a complete set of medals at the Winter Olympics with a gold (2002) and a silver (20 ...

, German cross-country skier * Viola Cheptoo Lagat (born 1989), Kenyan middle-distance runner *

Viola Goretzki Viola Goretzki (later Landvoigt; born 23 November 1956) is a retired German rower. She won a world title in 1975 and an Olympic gold medal in 1976 at the 1976 Montreal in the eight event. For these achievements she was awarded the Patriotic O ...

, German rower * Viola Grahl, German former field hockey player *

Violah Jepchumba Violah Jepchumba (born 23 October 1990) is a Kenyan born long-distance runner from Bahrain who competes in road running events up to the half marathon distance. She is the current Asian Record holder in the half-marathon (established 01 April 2017 ...

(born 1990), Kenyan long-distance runner *

Viola Kibiwot Viola Jelagat Kibiwot (born 22 December 1983 in Keiyo District) is a runner from Kenya who specialises in the 1500 metres. Kibiwot won her first international medal as a junior runner at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where s ...

, Kenyan distance runner *

Viola Myers Viola Lillian Myers (later Richardson, 1927 – November 15, 1993) was a Canadian sprinter who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the 4×100 m relay and finished fourth in the individual 100 m. Myers started training ...

, Canadian athlete *

Viola Odebrecht Viola Odebrecht (born 11 February 1983) is a retired German footballer who last played for VfL Wolfsburg. She also played for Germany. She played 49 international matches for the national team and became world champion in 2003 . Club career 1 ...

, German footballer *

Viola Poley Viola Poley (later Kowalschek, born 13 April 1955) is a German rower who competed for East Germany in the 1976 Summer Olympics. She was born in Berlin in 1955. In 1976, she was a crew member of the East German boat, which won the gold medal in ...

, German rower *

Viola Thomas Viola Thomas (born 1939) was a 3-time Canadian barrel racing champion and one of the first women to be licensed as a jockey in Canada. She was the first licensed woman jockey to ride in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, third woman to ride as a l ...

(born 1939), Canadian barrel rolling champion *

Viola Thompson Viola Thompson ''Griffin(January 2, 1922 – December 31, 2017) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Listed at , , she batted and threw left-handed. A hard-throwing, underhand ...

, American professional baseball player *

Viola Valli Viola Valli (born 15 May 1972) is a former female open water swimmer from Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Medite ...

, Italian long distance swimmer *

Viola Yanik Viola Yanik (born July 9, 1982 in Bonn, West Germany) is a Canadian wrestler. She has wrestled since 1997 and is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan. She won a bronze medal in the 63 kg freestyle event at the 2003 World Championship ...

, Canadian wrestler

Performers

Viola Allen Viola Emily Allen (October 27, 1867 – May 9, 1948) was an American stage actress who played leading roles in Shakespeare and other plays, including many original plays. She starred in over two dozen Broadway productions from 1885 to 1916. Be ...

, American stage actress *

Viola Barry Viola Barry ( – April 2, 1964) was an American silent film actress who starred in a number of films during the 1910s. Early years Gladys Viola Wilson was born in Evanston, Illinois, the daughter of Rev. J. Stitt Wilson, a Methodist minister. ...

, American silent film actress *

Viola Compton Viola Maud Compton–Mackenzie (26 November 1886 – 7 April 1971), known as Viola Compton, was an English film actress. Born in Fulham, London, she was the second of three siblings born to the actors Edward Compton and Virginia Frances Batem ...

, British film actress *

Viola Dana Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath; June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent films. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films. Early lif ...

, American silent film actress *

Viola Davis Viola Davis (; born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and producer. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards, she is the only African-American to achieve the Triple Crow ...

, American actress *

Viola Farber Viola Farber (February 25, 1931 – December 24, 1998) was an American choreographer and dancer. Biography Viola Farber was born on February 25, 1931, in Heidelberg, Germany. In Germany, Farber began dancing. However, at the age of six she was ...

, American choreographer and dancer *

Viola Gillette Viola Gillette (1871 - 1956), born Viola Pratt, was an American contralto from Salt Lake City. Biography Gillette began her career as a church singer in Salt Lake City. She made her stage debut in Washington, D.C. in 1898. She subsequently mo ...

, American contralto *

Viola Harris Viola Harris (July 5, 1920 – August 23, 2017) was an American actress known for roles in television, theater and film from the 1950s to the 2010s. Career Harris appeared in a number of films including Woody Allen's ''Deconstructing Harry'' ...

, American actress *

Viola Keats Viola Keats (1911–1998) was a British stage, film and television actress. ''The Independent'' called her "an actress of vigour and conviction." After training at RADA, her first appearance on the London Stage was at the Apollo Theatre in 1933, ...

, British film and television actress *

Viola Lyel Viola Lyel (19 December 1896 – 14 August 1972) was an English actress. In a long stage career she appeared in the West End and on Broadway, for leading directors of the day, including Sir Barry Jackson, and Nigel Playfair. Her roles ranged fr ...

, British film and television actress *

Viola Léger Viola Léger, (born June 29, 1930) is an American-Canadian actress and former Canadian Senator. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Léger received a B.A. and a B.Ed. from the Université de Moncton, and an M.F.A. (Theater Education) from Bost ...

, (1930–2023), Acadian-Canadian actress and former Canadian Senator * Viola McCoy, African-American blues singer *

Viola Richard Viola Richard (26 January 1904 – 28 December 1973) was an American actress. Biography Born as Evelyn Viola Richard in 1904 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she appeared in several silent short comedies at the Hal Roach Studios opposite Laur ...

, American silent film actress * Viola Smith (1912-2020), American drummer *

Viola Valentino Virginia Minnetti (born July 1, 1949 in Canzo), best known by her stage name Viola Valentino, is an Italian singer. Biography Minnetti started her career as a singer in 1968 under the name Virginia and later began to sing with her then husband ...

, Italian singer *

Viola Wills Viola Mae Wilkerson (December 30, 1939 – May 6, 2009), better known professionally as Viola Wills was an American pop and R&B singer, best known for her disco/dance/Hi-NRG covers of classics and other standards such as Patience and Prud ...

, American pop singer

Politicians and administrators

Viola Baskerville Viola Osborne Baskerville (born October 29, 1951) is a Virginia lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1998 to 2005 and as Secretary of Administration in the Cabinet of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine from 2006 to 2 ...

, Secretary of Administration in the Cabinet of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine *

Viola Jimulla Viola Jimulla (1878 – December 7, 1966) was the Chief of the Prescott Yavapai tribe. She became Chief when her husband, who was also a Chief of the tribe, died in an accident in 1940. She remained Chief until her death. She was known for im ...

, Chief of the Prescott Yavapai tribe * Viola B. Sanders, director of Women in the Navy

Writers

Viola Bayley Viola Clare Bayley (8 January 1911 – January 1997) was a British children's writer of adventure stories. Life Viola Clare Wingfield Powles was born on 8 January 1911, in Rye, Sussex. Her parents were Isabel Grace Wingfield and Lewis C ...

, British children's writer * Viola Canales, American writer *

Viola Fischerová Viola Fischerová (October 18, 1935 Brno – November 4, 2010 Prague) was a Czech poet, and translator. Life Her father was Josef Ludvík Fischer; her half sister is Sylva Fischerová. She studied Slavic studies at universities in Brno and Pragu ...

, Czech poet and translator * Viola Florence Barnes, American historian and author *

Viola Garvin Viola Gerard Garvin (1 January 1898 – January 1969) was an English poet and literary editor at ''The Observer''. Life and career Viola Garvin was born at Benwell on 1 January 1898, the eldest daughter of J. L. Garvin, later the long-time edito ...

, English poet and editor * Viola Meynell, English writer, novelist and poet *

Viola Roseboro' Viola Roseboro' (December 3, 1857Viola Roseboro': A Prototype for Cather's ...

, American editor and novelist *

Viola S. Wendt Viola Sophia Wendt (March 31, 1907 – March 23, 1986) was an American poet and educator. Early life and education Wendt was born into a farming family in Boise, Idaho, in March 1907, the first of two daughters of Carl Wendt. Her parents move ...

, American poet and educator

Others

Viola Frey Viola Frey (August 15, 1933 – July 26, 2004) was an American artist working in sculpture, painting and drawing, and professor emerita at California College of the Arts. She lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area and was renowned for her ...

, American ceramics artist *

Viola Gentry Viola Gentry (1894 - 1988) was an American aviator, best known for setting the Elinor Smith#Endurance records, first non-refueling endurance record for women. Early life Gentry was born in Gentry, Rockingham County, North Carolina. She learned to ...

, American aviator * Viola Haqi, Dutch fashion model * Viola R. MacMillan, Canadian authority on mining * Viola Pettus, American nurse *

Viola Slaughter Cora Viola Howell (September 18, 1860–March 1941), later to become Viola Slaughter, was an Arizona rancher and the wife of Sheriff John Horton Slaughter, known as Texas John Slaughter. Early years Viola Slaughter was born in Missouri to Am ...

, Arizona rancher and the wife of sheriff John Slaughter *

Viola Spolin Viola Spolin (November 7, 1906 — November 22, 1994) was an American theatre academic, educator and acting coach. She is considered an important innovator in 20th century American theater for creating directorial techniques to help actors to be ...

, American director and teacher

Fictional characters

*Viola, a character from ''

Eternal Sonata is a role-playing video game developed by tri-Crescendo and published by Bandai Namco Games. The Xbox 360 version of the game was released on June 14, 2007 in Japan, September 17, 2007 in North America, and October 19, 2007 in Europe. The game wa ...

'' * Viola (''Kiddy Grade''), in the Japanese anime television series ''Kiddy Grade'' * Viola (''She's the Man''), a character in the American film ''She's the Man'' * Viola (''TimeSplitters''), a character in the English video game series ''TimeSplitters'' * Viola (''Twelfth Night''), character in William Shakespeare's play ''Twelfth Night'' * Viola (''Zone of the Enders''), a character in the Japanese video game series ''Zone of the Enders'' *Viola, a character in the ''Soul series'' of fighting games *Viola, a character from ''

Valkyrie Drive is a Japanese media franchise created by Marvelous, which was announced at the AnimeJapan convention in March 2015. The franchise consists of three projects; , an anime television series produced by Arms Corporation, which aired in Japan f ...

- Bhikkhuni'' *Viola de Lesseps, heroine of the film ''

Shakespeare in Love ''Shakespeare in Love'' is a 1998 romantic period comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard, and produced by Harvey Weinstein. It stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Col ...

'' *Viola, a Gym Leader in ''

Pokémon (an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise. In terms of ...

'' series *Viola, one of Jake's five children from ''Adventure Time'' *Viola, a character from the anime and manga series, ''

One Piece ''One Piece'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since July 1997, with its individual chapte ...

'' *Viola, a character from the RPG horror game '' The Witch's House'' *Viola, a character from the series "

The Knife of Never Letting Go ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' is a young-adult science fiction novel written by British-American author Patrick Ness. It was published by Walker Books on 5 May 2008. It is the first book in the ''Chaos Walking'' series, followed by '' The ...

" *Viola, a character from the movie "

Chaos Walking ''Chaos Walking'' is a young adult science fiction series written by American-British novelist Patrick Ness. It is set in a dystopian world where all living creatures can hear each other's thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds call ...

References

{{given name Feminine given names Spanish feminine given names English feminine given names German feminine given names Hungarian feminine given names Dutch feminine given names