Vi is a short form of the English name Violet, which derives from the English word for the purple flower, ultimately from Latin viola. Violet was first used as a given name in Scotland from the 16th century and gained broader popularity across the English-speaking world in the 19th century under the influence of floral naming trends of the Victorian era. Etymology The English word violet comes via Old French violette from Latin viola, the name for the violet flower. The color violet is named after the flower. The name Vi literally means "violet" and belongs to the category of nature-inspired names. Notable Bearers Despite its brevity, Vi appears in popular culture: Vi Plame, a character in the graphic novel Saga, and Vi Allam, a fictional character from the TV series The Moomins. The name is also occasionally used as a standalone name in contemporary times, often as a minimalist alternative to Vìda or Viveca. Cultural Significance The flower names had a surge in Protestant Scotland in the 16th century as part of naming children after virtues, plants, and seasons (after Puritan influences). Violet itself remained in use in the nobility, but Vi as a diminutive became common in informal usage. The Scottish root likely came due to prevalent horticulture in noble estates. Vi carries the lightness and grace of its longer shell, reflected through historical attachment to diminutives used especially in Victor's literature and onomastics expansions.