Fun Facts About the Name Verily
- 21 babies named Verily: U.S. records list 21 babies given the name Verily from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Verily Mean?
Verily is an English given name taken from the adverb verily, meaning "truly" or "certainly." The adverb was formed in Middle English as verraily, from the adjective verrai (also spelled veray), "true," plus the adverbial ending -ly, which comes from Old English -līce. The adjective entered English from Old French verai, which descends from Latin veracus, a derivative of verus, "true." The literal sense is therefore "in a true manner" or "truthfully," and the customary sense in English is the emphatic "truly, certainly."
It is not the same name as Verity. Both connect to Latin verus, "true," but Verity comes from the Latin noun veritas, "truth," while Verily is an adverb borrowed into English through Old French.
Verily Name History & Origins
The word behind this name goes back to Latin verus, "true," which produced the derived form veracus. That passed into Old French as verai or verrai, and Middle English adopted the adjective as verrai, "true." From it English built the adverb verraily, whose spelling gradually settled into verily.
The adverb became a familiar marker of emphasis in older English, and it is closely associated with Bible translation. In the King James Version of 1611, "Verily, verily, I say unto you" stands for the Greek amen amen, an emphatic "truly, truly," and the word appears in the same role in other English translations of that period.
As a personal name, Verily is uncommon. It is drawn directly from a common English word rather than from a saint's name or an inherited given name, which places it alongside other English names taken from vocabulary words. Its use as a name is occasional, and it is far less familiar in that role than the noun-based Verity.
How Popular is the Name Verily?
Verily has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #14,812 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #14,812 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #17,422 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #17,498 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #17,966 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Verily Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Verily's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Verily's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.