Kip's List of Virtue Names

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

One of the more unusual word names used by Plymouth pilgrims for their children. Fear Brewster is an example of the usage of this name. Definitely one of the historic pilgrim names best left in the past.

Much more common on girls, but this virtue is occasionally given to boys too. It has the option of Bert(ie) as a nickname.

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.

A rare virtue-style name, associated with determination and dedication to a particular cause or goal, with having a strong grip, and with an enduring existence. This could be spun positively and associated with hard work and focus, but there may also be an undertone of negativity to the word name, a degree of being too dedicated to one goal or of something, such as a myth, enduring for just too long.

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.

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.

There's no reason why Memory shouldn't be a name — it sounds like Melody and Mallory, is a pleasant word, and has great nickname options (Rory! Mimi!). Plus, there's that earworm song from Cats.

Honor-related names are climbing in popularity, such as Honesty, Honor, and now Honest.

Forget Patience and Charity: Here's a Colonial name (and sentiment) that seems perfect for modern times.

A warm and positive English word name, used by the Puritans for both sexes but now given to only around a dozen baby girls each year.

Promise is one of those word names with an uplifting meaning that is making inroads as a girls' name, like sisters Dream and Serenity. How promising is Promise as a first name? Our try at cleverness illustrates perhaps the biggest problem with naming your baby girl Promise: It will be difficult for people to resist making bad puns on the name. We promise (argh) you'll be tired of hearing them well before your baby Promise's first birthday.

Rare word name that works for either gender.

A bold choice, encompassing ideas of eternal love between parents and children, of promises kept, and infinite time, Forever may also have spiritual or religious ties for some. Grounded by its similarity to the likes of Ever, Everly, Flora, and Heaven, it was chosen for 41 girls and 9 boys in a recent year.

One of the original so-weird-it's-cruel celebrity baby names doesn't sound quite so impossible with the resurgence of virtue names. But be charitable and choose Charity instead.

Not all words work as baby names, but Wonder would transition seamlessly.

Experience is a word name used by the New England Puritans but probably too joke-worthy for a modern child...or teenager. It does not have as direct a biblical reference as most Puritan names.