How to say it
VE · ra
ˈvɛr.ə
Feminine
Vera
Truth, or 'faith'
What it means
Two roots that converged: the Latin verus ('true') and the Slavic vera ('faith'). Vera Wang, Vera Farmiga, and Lynn Redgrave's Vera give the name three different English-language anchors.
Vera has two roots that converged in modern English usage. The Latin verus ('true,' from which English gets 'verity' and 'verify') gives one path. The Slavic vera ('faith') gives another; the Russian Faith-Hope-Love triplet (Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov) is a traditional grouping. Saint Vera was a 2nd-century Roman martyr (one of the Faith-Hope-Love triplet daughters of Saint Sophia). The English Vera was strong in the early 20th century (Vera Lynn, the WWII Sweetheart of the Forces, sang We'll Meet Again), dropped through mid-century, and is climbing again. Vera Wang (the bridal designer) and Vera Farmiga (the actress) are the modern anchors. Single short forms aren't common.
How to spell Vera
The standard spelling is Vera. Common variants include Verena, Verity, but Vera is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #65 in 1915, currently #205 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Vera Wang the bridal designer is the dominant US anchor; Vera Lynn ('We'll Meet Again') is the WWII-era one.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Vera Lynn British WWII-era singer, We'll Meet Again, 1917-2020
- Vera Wang American fashion designer, the wedding-dress brand
- Vera Farmiga American actress, Up in the Air and The Conjuring
Spelling variants
- Verena
- Verity
Names with the same feeling
See Vera from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Vera mean?
- Two roots that converged: the Latin verus ('true') and the Slavic vera ('faith'). Vera Wang, Vera Farmiga, and Lynn Redgrave's Vera give the name three different English-language anchors.
- What does Vera mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Vera means "Truth, or 'faith'." Vera has two roots that converged in modern English usage. The Latin verus ('true,' from which English gets 'verity' and 'verify') gives one path. The Slavic vera ('faith') gives another; the Russian Faith-Hope-Love triplet (Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov) is a traditional grouping. Saint Vera was a 2nd-century Roman martyr (one of the Faith-Hope-Love triplet daughters of Saint Sophia). The English Vera was strong in the early 20th century (Vera Lynn, the WWII Sweetheart of the Forces, sang We'll Meet Again), dropped through mid-century, and is climbing again. Vera Wang (the bridal designer) and Vera Farmiga (the actress) are the modern anchors. Single short forms aren't common.
- How do you pronounce Vera?
- Vera is pronounced ˈvɛr.ə. Say it as VE-ra, with the stress on the "ve" syllable.
- How do you spell Vera?
- The standard spelling is Vera. Common spelling variants include Verena, Verity.
- Is Vera a boy or girl name?
- Vera is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Vera?
- Vera ranked #205 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.