Veronica (name)

Veronica (variants in other languages: Veronika, Verónica, Verônica, Véronique, Weronika, Вероника) is a female given name, a Latin alteration of the ancient Macedonian name Berenice (Βερενίκη), which in turn is derived from the Macedonian form of the Attic Greek Φερενίκη, Phereníkē, or Φερονίκη, Pheroníkē, from φέρειν, phérein, to bring, and νίκη, níkê, "victory", i.e. "she who brings victory".

The Ancient Macedonian form of the name was extensively used as a royal feminine name by the reigning dynasties of the states of the Diadochi of Alexander the Great throughout the Eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic age, most notably by the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and by the Seleucids of the Levant.

In medieval etymology, Veronica was sometimes supposed to derive from Latin vera (true) and Greek eikon (image).

Its popularity in medieval and modern times is derived from the prominence in Christianity of Saint Veronica and her Veil of Veronica. Pet forms of Veronica include Ronnie and Roni and the German Vroni. In Ukrainian, the pet forms are Nika (Нiка), Vera (Вiра) -faith, and Virynia (Вiруня), and in Poland Wera. "Veronica" is a popular name in many countries in the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, and also Ireland, France, and French-speaking Canada.