May 4, 2009

Virtue Baby Names

updated October 2015


The early settlers of the US chose some interesting and beautiful names for their children. Wanting to break away from typical English saint's names but also proudly pass on their beliefs, virtue names were the perfect way for the Puritans to express themselves.

These days, their choices are inspiring parents because of the sweet, comforting words and connotations. But virtue names are getting a modern makeover, away from the likes of Abstinence, Consider, Do-Good, and Sin-Deny and into the territory of uplifting names with endearing qualities. These are the names that speak to the best of human nature, and they are easy to love!

Below are names listed with rank following if the name is in the U.S. top 1,000 names. Virtue names tend to swing "pink," but several are perfect for boys. Enjoy!


Amity

Charity

Chastity or Chasity

Clarity

Constance

Earnest

Faith, 81

Felicity, 497

Foster, 993 (boys)

Grace, 21

Harmony, 193

Honor, Honora

Hope, 231

Joy, 462

Justice, 533 (boys)

Liberty, 566

Love

Loyal

Mercy

Merit

Noble

Patience, 988

Promise

Prudence

Purity

Remember


Sincere, 624 (boys)

Temperance, 854

True, Truly

Unity

Valor

Verity

Wisdom

4 comments:

  1. These are awesome,

    Amity

    Comfort-this was Pearl Buck's real name

    Constance

    Felicity

    Grace

    Honor, Honora

    Joy

    Mercy

    Patience

    Prudence

    Remember

    Temperance

    Verity

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the name Hope and Grace best :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. amity and temperance. <3

    ReplyDelete
  4. My 5th great grandmother was named experience, and her sister was named Freelove. I've seen a record of Freelove being nicknamed "Lovey" and have often wondered and hoped that Experience had an equally approachable nickname!

    ReplyDelete