The female name Victoria can come from either of two sources. It can be seen as the feminine form of Victor (which means "victor" in Latin) or as coming directly from the Latin itself (victoria means "victory").

Whichever route you take, there's one association this name will never be able to shake: Queen Victoria (1837-1901), who reigned over the British Empire for more than 6 decades.

Why? Because hundreds (perhaps thousands) of things are named "Victoria" specifically in honor of the Queen. Most notoriously, there's the prudish Victorian Era. There's also an Australian state, a Canadian province, and the capital of the Seychelles -- not to mention many parks, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, buildings, schools and streets all over the world. Animal species, plant species, sailing vessels, prestigious awards and other random things bear the name of the Queen as well.

Today, a more immediate association might be lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret (which was also named for the Queen, irony of all ironies). Other modern associations include entertainers such as Victoria Beckham, Victoria Principal and Victoria "Tori" Spelling.

So... how has the name Victoria been faring, usage-wise? After decades of being moderately popular in the U.S., it became a "top 50" name for the first time in 1987, and it's been there ever since. So far, the highest it has ranked nationally is 16th place (in 1998 and 1999). In 2010, it ranked 32nd in the U.S.

The name Victoria looks refined on a diploma or resume, but for day-to-day use, there are plenty of nicknames to consider -- ranging from standards like Vicky and Tori to less common pet forms like Vic, Toria and Ria. (Other formal-sounding full names that can be shortened in a multitude of ways include Catherine, Elizabeth and Margaret.)

Finally, if you like Victoria but want something a little less ordinary, you could always consider the French forms Victorine and Victoire, or the Italian form Vittoria.

10,000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names Want more than the top 100 or top 1,000 baby girl names? Here's a complete list of the 10,000 most popular baby girl names in the nation! Click to learn more.