Viola /vi-o-la/ [3 sylls.] as a girls' name is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Viola is purple. Viola is a version of Violet (Latin): one of the earliest flower names.Compare surname Violi.Kreatif forms: Violu, Viova.iola is a very prominent first name for women (#244 out of 4276, Top 6%) and also a very prominent surname for both adults and children (#5064 out of 150436, Top 3%). (2000 U.S. Census).