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GIRLS’ NAMES
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
VIOLA
[Welland Telegraph, 16 February 1912]
Girls called Viola should be proud of that distinction to see either of the pet terms, for Viola is the most universal of names, both in modern times and in antiquity. It is taken, of course, from the flower, which is viola even in Sanscrit, the oldest and most primitive of languages. However, this flower is so small and retiring as to become synonymous with modesty.
According to Greek legend, the Viola is “the fair daughter of Ajax’s blood,” having sprung from the earth as the hero’s life-fluid “poured forth to a purple flood.” Violets were very numerous in ancient Hellas, and even today Athena is known as the Violet Crowned City, as Paris is the “City of Lilies,” only the flower referred to in the Paris title is a pun on the word Louis, pronounced Lye in patois and Lys is French for Lili.
Both here and in England Yolante is not unfrequently adopted by Violas of a romantic turn of mind, but the name rarely figures in the birth registers, which shows that the girl was re-christened by herself or others as she grew up to be a fair representative of the ambitious title, for Yolante is a title rather than a name, the first syllable being evidently a contraction of Viola, and the last standing for “land,” which the old Saxons spelled with a “t.”
Naturally the violet is the emblem of Violas of every description. The name’s signification is “Love of Truth,” and its sentiment innocence.
Viola is a lovely character in “As You Like It,” the tender and compassionate counterpart of the gay Rosalind. Another interesting Viola figures in Fletcher’s “Coxcomb.”
“Islanthe,” was the fifth opera in the writing in which Gilbert collaborated with Sir Arthur Sullivan. Violetta is the principal soprano role of Verdi’s opera “Traviata.”
La Violetta was a famous dancer of Austrian birth, but Gallic genius, who delighted London, and became the wife of Garrick. Her real name was Eva Marie Veigel.
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