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The short answer
Vera means "faith" in Russian, though Behind the Name notes it is sometimes associated with the Latin word verus, meaning "true", instead. It has been used in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century. A separate Behind the Name entry records an unrelated Albanian name also spelled Vera, derived from verë, meaning "summer". Pronounced VAIR-ə, the Russian-derived Vera ranked #205 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name's primary entry gives Vera as meaning "faith" in Russian, "though it is sometimes associated with the Latin word verus 'true'", and notes it has been in general English-speaking use since the late 19th century. A separate entry, Vera (2), records an unrelated Albanian name derived from verë, meaning "summer" — a different origin sharing only the spelling.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Old Church Slavic | věra | faith |
Competing or overlapping origins
- A separate Behind the Name entry, Vera (2), is an unrelated Albanian name from verë, "summer", sharing only the spelling with the Russian-derived Vera.
- Behind the Name notes the Russian Vera is sometimes folk-associated with the Latin word verus, "true", rather than the Slavic 'faith' root.
Popularity
Vera ranked #205 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #205 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Verochka, Verusha, Verusya
Variants: Vjera, Vyara, Viera
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Vera has a clipped, no-nonsense elegance that has made it popular again as a short alternative to longer vintage names, while its meaning of "faith" gives it real weight for parents choosing a name with a virtue-adjacent sense.
Style tags: vintage revival, Russian, virtue-adjacent, short and strong
Editorial interpretation: This style framing is editorial opinion. The 'faith' meaning and long English-language use are documented fact; the framing of Vera as a 'virtue name' and its current fashion status are subjective.
If you like this name
Editorial picks for readers drawn to Vera's short Slavic sound or its "faith" meaning.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Vera mean?
Vera means "faith" in Russian, though it is sometimes popularly linked to the Latin word verus, "true", instead.
Is Vera always the same name?
No. Behind the Name records a second, unrelated Vera used in Albanian, derived from verë, meaning "summer" — a different origin that just happens to share the spelling.
Is Vera a popular name?
Vera ranked #205 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Vera (1) — supports etymology, history, pronunciation, variants.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Vera (2) — supports competingOrigins.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
