Virtue Baby Names: From Puritan Classics to Modern Favorites

updated 2026

The Puritans certainly knew how to make a statement with a baby name! In seventeenth-century England and colonial America, some Puritan families looked beyond traditional saints' names to choose words that reflected their religious beliefs and the qualities they hoped to encourage in their children. Alongside biblical favorites, names like Faith, Patience, and Prudence became meaningful expressions of character and conviction.

Of course, not every Puritan name was quite so wearable. History also gives us memorable choices like Abstinence, Do-Good, and Sin-Deny. These days, virtue names are enjoying a fresh appreciation, and it's easy to see why. Their meanings are uplifting, their histories are fascinating, and many sound surprisingly at home alongside today's favorites. From the familiar sweetness of Grace and Hope to the vintage charm of Temperance and Constance, virtue names celebrate some of the best qualities of human nature.

Although many traditional virtue names lean feminine, there are wonderful possibilities for boys and gender-neutral choices, too. Here are 26 virtue baby names worth considering!

Charity

Chastity or Chasity

Clemency

Constance

Earnest

Faith

Felicity

Foster

Grace

Harmony

Honor or Honora

Hope

Joy

Justice

Liberty

Love

Mercy

Merit

Patience

Prudence

Purity

Remember

Serenity

Sincere

Temperance

Verity

A Virtue Worth Keeping

The Puritans may have helped popularize many virtue names, but their appeal reaches far beyond any one era or tradition. Faith, Hope, and Grace feel as familiar as old friends, while Prudence, Temperance, and Constance offer a little more vintage personality. And names like Justice, Liberty, and Serenity show how beautifully the tradition continues to evolve.

Whether you're drawn to their meanings, their history, or simply the way they sound, virtue names have a lovely way of expressing something worth holding onto.

Which virtue names are your favorites? Do you prefer timeless choices like Grace and Hope, or would you happily welcome a little Prudence or Patience into the world?