On Facebook the other day (and if you’re not my Facebook friend, why NOT? Don’t you want me to send you VIRTUAL GIFTS?), a discussion got started about which name we preferred, Victoria or Veronica. I like both but am not sure which I’d use first for a baby. Let’s have a poll over to the right [poll closed; see results below] that assumes a world in which you MUST name your baby girl one of those two names—which would you choose?
Poll results (301 votes total):
Victoria: 193 votes, roughly 64%
Veronica: 108 votes, roughly 35%
Veronica. I think Veronica sounds a bit fresher since Victoria was popular when I was growing up (80s).
Both lovely names though. No wrong answer really!
I know a little girl named Victory Rose. Not usually what I would like, but it suits her. And it turned me on to the name Victoria/Tori/Victory (just NOT Vicki!)
I agree with Jill. Victoria is definitely more common, so I voted for Veronica!
Both are lovely, though, with an abundance of nicknames.
If I had to pick a “V” name, I think I’d go with Vivian. But of these two, I’d go Victoria. Just because Victoria is softer sounding somehow. And I prefer Vicki/Tory over Ronnie any day.
I voted for Victoria here and on FB and I must say that this post makes me feel better (less stalkerish) about friending you in the first place.
I vote for Victoria. Veronica will always be the spoiled rich-girl from the Archie comics (I always wanted Archie with Betty, personally, Ronnie seemed like a biatch if you ask me).
I just have Veronica pegged in my head as a mean-girl name, and Victoria as a nice-girl, and it’s totally a personal prejudice but there it is! So, Victoria.
(But actually, I’m not really a true fan of either one, so I’d never choose either for my own future daughter(s). For V names I prefer Vivienne).
Verity is my FAVORITE V name. But I chose Victoria over Veronica. Not sure why.
I like Victoria better but voted Veronica because for me, Victoria’s Secret has all but ruined the name Victoria :(
My new baby girl is Veronica and I am reading all comments with a nervous, pained, expression, but it’s not so bad, really. Our Veronica seems like a Veronica already, after just four months. Everyone calls her Victoria at first though, which is funny, considering your poll.
I have always loved Veronica; Victoria I only warmed to recently, I think because of a Vicky or Tori or two I knew growing up. Also, it sounded like an ugly old queen. I do like Victoria now, but Veronica is an old and true love.
Also, I see more potential for good short forms in Veronica: Vera and Nica, and I infinitely prefer Nikki to Vicky.
Both names tend to get confused with my own occasionally.
I’m not a huge Veronica fan– just something about it– maybe I knew a snotty girl in highschool or something… I’m not a huge Victoria fan either, but there is something more classic about it. If I had to pick, I’d pick Victoria. However, in the nickname department… ouch: Vicki, Tori…? The whole name or any possible nicknames seem unfitting for a little girl… maybe default to a middle name nickname?
Both names are nice, but I prefer Veronica since it seems sassier than Victoria to me.
I taught a little girl named Veronica, nn Ronnie. At first the nickname sounded terrible, but eventually it just seemed natural. Every once in a while she’d ask to be called Veronica, and it was such a breath of fresh air. I think it’s time this name made a comeback!
My 1 year old daughter’s name is Victoria. My husband insisted on it because he hates trendy names (I liked Claire and why yes, I”m a child of the 80′). I HATE Vicky, and my husband’s family always wants to call her Tori which I hate too. I call her “V” or “Vi” almost all the time which makes people think her name is Violet.
I actually love both names, but I voted for Veronica. The name seems both sweet and strong at the same time, and I especially love the nickname Vera. Joanne, if you’re still reading, I think you made a lovely choice!
Victoria is a beautiful name and very regal, but I’m less crazy about the nickname options: Vicky, Tori, etc.
This is definitely a tough one for me, because I am really NOT a fan of either name, at all. Now, I feel like I SHOULD choose Victoria, because it would honor my FMIL, Vicki. But I’m going to have to go with Veronica because of the nickname options – I’d take a few creative liberties with the ending (-nica) and call her Nico, which I think is adorable.
Outside of these two names, my favorite V name is Verity – partially because it is the perfect combination of my mother’s and FMIL’s names, Terry and Vicki. I also like Violet and Venice, to some extent. :]
Well Victoria because it’s my middle name! I have a lovely cousin named Veronica, but people always called her Ronnie and she hated that.
I choose Veronica, for two reasons.
1) It was my best friend’s Gran’s name and she was lovely.
2) Elvis Costello
Nearly every time a baby girl is abandoned and left to die in my country, the people who rescue her or the hospital staff name her Victoria (Vitória). I was never a fan of the name in the first place, but this has forever tainted it in my mind.
My name is Veronica, and I absolutely love it. I have thanked my mom many times for blessing me with such an outstanding name. Veronica is a name you don’t hear quite often. But it also not obscure or silly sounding like some names these days. Veronica is a strong but feminine name. I have met a couple of other Veronica’s, and none of us are snotty. Stereotypes crack me up.
Joanne you have given your daughter a beautiful name and one day she will thank you. So don’t worry about the negativity, they probably have boring names and are jealous.
Veronica
Why choose? My parents didn’t. Victoria Veronica! ;-) And no, never did warm to any of the possible nicknames, but other than that, I can’t say as I’ve ever been dissatisfied with either…