Virtue Names

A modern virtue name, particularly desirable in this pressure-cooker world.

No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.

More often spelled VERENA, this name is attached to a third century Swiss saint. But the "virtue" name VERITY, is more appealing and comes more directly to the point.

Sympathetic new twist on a Puritan virtue name.

Wonder is a lovely quality for a modern virtue name. With ethereal word names like Dream and Love rising fast in the charts, Wonder feels right at home. Australian singer, Sia, used it as a middle name for her third daughter, Somersault Wonder.

Like Verity and Amity, this inclusive virtue name used by the colorful British literary Mitford family is ready to join its more popular peers Hope, Faith, and Grace.

Otherworldly.

The Puritans used it as a virtue name -- but today it would just be considered weird: silence is no longer golden.

A Puritan-esque virtue name with religious undertones — referring to being cleansed of evil spirits. For the bold namer, the built-in nicknames Liv and Livy feel approachable.

A warm-sounding word and virtue name used by the Puritans and still popular in parts of Africa, especially with the Favour spelling. It might be used as a nickname for the longer, perhaps even bolder form, Godfavor (as in, "favored by God").

The mother of all virtue names.

A bit too self-congratulatory and, understandably, exceedingly rare. Still, if you're looking for a modern virtue name for your daughter, this may be one of the best qualities to exemplify.

This Puritan virtue name may be unstylish, but it is also sympathetic and appealing in these largely uncomfortable times.

A winning unisex word name, fresher than Victoria or Victor. While Victory ranked only once on the US Top 1000, in 1918 at the end of World War I, it's a Top 25 name for girls in France.

Generally used in conjunction with another name to form a religious phrase -- for instance the daughter of rapper DMX is called Praise Mary Ella.

A kind of French virtue name, an affectionate form of Fidele.

Modesty is a virtue name dating to Roman times, but never widely used, except for hot 1960s movie spoof heroine, Modesty Blaise, based on a comic strip.

A traditional French male name that could, with American pronunciation, become an admirable word name.

Like Justice and Peace, this word name makes a very strong statement. Ving Rhames chose it for his boy.

Adventurous word choice, but still quite a burden for a child to bear.