Beautiful Virtue Names To Consider For Your Baby
Choosing a baby name can be one of the most daunting and exciting experiences of a parent's life. You know the moniker will stick with your child for the rest of their life and in some cases, become an heirloom family name passed down for generations. This doesn't have to be a stressful experience, though.
if you want to provide your child with a name that has an underlying meaning, consider virtue-inspired names. Virtue is defined as having high moral standards and behavior, and if you opt for a name like this, it can be a sentiment to your hopes for your child's future. Virtue names can be traced all the way back to the Puritans, who commonly expressed their values through simple monikers like Verity, Eden, and Peace. In more recent years, celebrities have taken to this baby-naming trend. For example, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West picked the virtue-based name for their second child and firstborn son: Saint, which means "holy person." Actor Selma Blair also used the same moniker as a middle name for her son, Arthur Saint Bleick. Actor Angie Harmon and her ex-husband Jason Seahorn also chose virtue middle names for all three of their daughters – Finley Faith, Avery Grace, and Emory Hope.
Whether you're looking for a virtuous first or middle name for your upcoming addition, we've got you covered.
Patience
When thinking of virtues, patience is one of the first that probably comes to your mind. The name based on this virtue peaked in popularity in 2006, when it ranked in the top 600 baby names in the U.S. While it's never made it into the top 100 or even top 500 lists of baby names, the vintage name has been around for ages.
Patience is of Latin origin, meaning "enduring" or "forbearing." It has some interesting variations like Paish, Paishey, Patty, and Pat, which can all be used as nicknames. This name also suggests the traditional virtue of patience (which is a great quality any parent can hope for their child).
Patience dates all the way back to the 17th century. You may recall the character Patience, who served as the woman-in-waiting to Queen Katherine, in Shakespeare's play, "Henry VIII," which was published in the early 1600s. More recently, Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry played Catwoman Patience Phillips in 2004's "Catwoman."
Faith
We often think of faith when it comes to religious beliefs, but the word can also be used to portray confidence in something. And, of course, it can also be used as a name. Meaning "trust" or "confidence elevated to the highest level," Faith is a feminine name of Latin origin, as Mom.com explains.
If you're looking for a virtue name that ranked high on the popularity charts, then Faith might be your winner. Data from the Social Security Administration indicates that the name ranked in the top 50 baby names (#48) in 2002.
While it's started to decline slightly in popularity in recent years, it still remains a top 200 choice for many families. Numerous celebrities have chosen the name for their children, including actor Nicole Kidman and her country music star husband Keith Urban. Actor Kelsey Grammer and his wife Kayte Walsh also named their daughter Faith.
Levi
A strong boy's name that has soared in popularity for boys in recent years is the name Levi. The virtue name skyrocketed all the way to the top 12 baby names in America in 2021, according to data collected by the Social Security Administration. While Olivia and Liam were the two most popular baby names that year, landing 12th on the list is nothing to sneeze at.
Coming from the Hebrew word lēwī, Levi (pronounced lee-vye) means "joined" and has modern appeal with ancient roots, appearing in the book of Genesis in the Bible. The name is not just popular in the United States but worldwide. Like all baby names that vary in popularity as the years go by, the moniker has had peaks in the top 20 in Australia and Netherlands and has been in the top 100 in Switzerland and Sweden.
Several celebrities are also fans of the trendy name. Actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves named their son Levi Alves McConaughey, and "Rosanne" actress Sara Gilbert, also chose the name for her son, Levi Hank Gilbert-Alexander. The name is also iconic for the denim jeans brand Levi Strauss & Co, which was created by Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss in 1853.
Mercy
The name Mercy has a long history dating all the way back to the late 19th century as a Puritan favorite. More recently, it was the name of the popular 2008 song "Mercy" by Duffy, and the 2016 song of the same name by Shawn Mendes.
Mercy is of English origin and is a beautiful name meaning "compassion" or "kindness, according to The Bump. Although the name peaked in popularity in 2019, it still didn't crack the top 500. So know that if you pick this name, your child is probably going to be unique and won't have to use their last initial to distinguish themselves from other kids sharing the same name in their kindergarten class.
The name does still have a bit of notoriety, though. International music icon Madonna's daughter is named Mercy James, and it's also the name of actor-comedian Andy Richter and actor Sarah Thyre's daughter, Mercy Richter, who was born in 2005. Richter once joked about choosing the moniker for his daughter, saying, "Just in case Puritanism comes back, we'll be ready with a real Puritan name."
Grace
You'll be hard pressed to find a virtue name more popular than Grace. It's a beautiful, classic name that has reached the top 10 charts in popularity in countries like Australia and Ireland. It also consistently ranks in the top 40 in the United States, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
The name Grace is of Latin origin (from the word "grâtia") and means "favor" or "blessing." When you hear the name Grace, you probably think of kindness, favor, and thanks, which are all virtues you would want in your child. The 17th-century Puritans used the name in reference to God's favor, a definition that holds true today and why it remains popular for religious families. However, there is no shortage of Graces in today's world. The name has been used in popular television shows, like "Will & Grace," and is also in the historic song "Amazing Grace," which was originally published in a 1382 hymnal.
In the U.S., Grace peaked in popularity in 2003 and 2004, when it became the 13th most commonly used baby name. As of 2021 data, Grace remains popular, sitting at No. 34. after taking the 28th spot for two years in a row. Naturally, Grace is a timeless name for your newborn.
Felicity
Who doesn't want good fortune and happiness for their child? With the name Felicity, that's what you get. The name has Latin roots to the word "felicitas" and means "good fortune" or "happiness."
Felicity is relatively new to the popular baby-naming scene, unlike many other virtue names out there. Globally, the name hasn't started any trends outside of England (and even though it performed better there than in the United States, it only just barely hit the top 50 in England and Wales in 2019).
Felicity didn't take hold until the 1930s, but it has sat pretty firmly on the top 1,000 list in recent years, according to Social Security Administration data compiled by The Bump. The name saw a spike in popularity in the U.S. in the late 1990s, likely due to the hit show "Felicity," a TV series following the show's main character Felicity Porter (played by Keri Russell) as she went about her college life at the fictional University of New York. One of the most well-known celebrities with this moniker is Felicity Huffman, who starred in the ABC comedy-drama "Desperate Housewives."
Charity
The name Charity is derived from the Latin word "carus" and means "dear" or "valued." The name has roots in kindness, which is something we all want our little ones to spread as they live their lives. Charity aligns well with other virtue names but is more uncommon, which is perfect for someone wanting a unique name that isn't overused.
Charity peaked in popularity in the 1970s, when it hit No. 183, according to Social Security Administration data. While it fell out of the top 1,000 baby names in 2014, it's still a beautiful option in the virtue category.
Charity is uncommon enough that you may not know anyone else with the name. A few fictional characters that may come to mind, though, are Charity Burbage, the Professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts in "Harry Potter," and Charity Hallett-Barnum (played by Michelle Williams) in the 2017 film "The Greatest Showman."
Justice
Justice is a great gender-neutral name that was previously used mostly for boys but has gained popularity among the princesses in recent years. It's a great option to remind your child that being honest and acting with integrity is the ideal way to operate in life. The moniker, which has been used for centuries, means "to deliver what is just" and has Latin roots in the word "Jus" (translated: law), according to The Bump.
You probably won't find the name being used much outside of the United States, as it doesn't rank very high globally; however, it seems to be a solid choice for Americans. Since 1992, it has remained a top 1,000 choice for boys, and since 1994, it has remained in the top 1,000 for girls, according to Social Security Administration data.
Since the name started trending for girls in the '90s, some characters have been given the moniker, including Janet Jackson's character in the 1993 film "Poetic Justice." Shannon Elizabeth also played a character named Justice in the 2001 movie "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
Destiny
If you feel like conceiving your baby girl-to-be was fate, why not consider a virtue name like Destiny? The name is derived from the French word "destine" and the Latin word "destinare," and means "one's certain fortune" or "fate," according to The Bump.
Destiny is a unique name with many nickname options, including Dee, Dez, and Dessie. It's a relatively modern virtue name, unlike many of the other Puritan names out there, as the name didn't come about until the last half of the 20th century. Destiny has been a fairly popular choice in recent decades, breaking into the top 200 list in 1991, according to data collected by the Social Security Administration. The name was most popular in 2001, ranking No. 22 that year. In addition to being popular in the United States, the moniker is also frequently used in England, Whales, Canada, and the Netherlands.
It's no surprise that the moniker's peak popularity aligns with the rise of the musical group Destiny's Child, which took the music scene by storm in the '90s. And, of course, famous child actor turned musician Miley Cyrus (daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus) was born Destiny Hope Cyrus. You may recall Cyrus changed her name to her childhood nickname Miley in 2008.
Although the name Destiny has since had a downturn in popularity, it remains a top 500 moniker and a beautiful option for a baby that is meant to be.
Ace
Ace is a unisex name that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple decades. It jumped from No. 6,412 in 1998 to No. 280 in 2021, according to Social Security Administration data compiled by The Bump. The trendy name has Latin roots and means to inspire the "utmost self-confidence." Ace was initially used as a nickname in England during the Middle Ages, when people used to play dice frequently, but it has become more of a popular first name in recent years.
Most people probably remember the popular "Ace" role played by Jim Carrey in the Ace Ventura films. That role was one of the biggest representations of the name Ace in entertainment. However, it's not the only time Hollywood used the name. The name was also used in several television shows and movies, including "Doctor Who," "Gilmore Girls," and "Casino." And, in 2013, celebrity musician Jessica Simpson named her son Ace Knute Johnson.
Ace is the perfect name to communicate your hopes that your little one will always come out on top in life, just like the ace in a deck of cards.