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Kip's List of Virtue Names

Cate Juhl
By Cate Juhl
Updated Sat May 06 2023
  1. Constance

    • Origin:

      English version of Latin Constantia

    • Meaning:

      "steadfastness"

    • Description:

      Constance is one of the more subtle of the virtue baby names, but still has quite a prim and proper image. One impediment to its revival has been the decidedly dated nickname Connie, though modern parents might well opt for using the strong and dignified name in full.
  2. Hope

    • Origin:

      Virtue name

    • Description:

      Can a name as virtuous as Hope be cool and trendy? Strangely enough -- yes. But though this optimistic Puritan favorite is experiencing substantial popularity, Hope is too pure and elegant to be corrupted, a lovely classic that deserves all the attention it's getting.
  3. Haven

    • Origin:

      Word name, English

    • Meaning:

      "a place of safety"

    • Description:

      Haven is a recently invented safe-harbor name that appeals to an increasing number of parents who don't want to voyage quite as far as Heaven.
  4. Kyrie

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Lord"

    • Description:

      Kyrie may be a name of God used widely in the ancient church refrain Kyrie Elieson, or Lord, have mercy, but it's rising in popularity for boys in the US on the strength of basketball star Kyrie Irving. Irving pronounces the first syllable of Kyrie to rhyme with my, whereas with the religious word it rhymes with fear.
  5. Mercy

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "compassion"

    • Description:

      The quality of mercy makes this lovely Puritan virtue name a quiet favorite today. Although it was most popular in the late nineteenth century, Mercy is on its way to a comeback -- it rose 143 spots between 2012 and 2013, making it one of the year's fastest-rising names. Right now, it's still stylish and distinctive, a rare and wonderful combination.
  6. Liberty

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Less common than other virtue names, Liberty is nonetheless a name with a long American heritage.
  7. Solace

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      A rare unisex word/virtue name that is currently given to around 10 babies of each gender per year in the US. It could make for an unexpected route to bright, easygoing nickname Sol (or trendy nickname Ace).
  8. Harvest

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "the season for gathering in agricultural crops"

    • Description:

      Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, though it tips a bit in the girls' direction in the contemporary US. Given the rise of such popular baby names as Harper and August, plus new word names from Heaven to True, Harvest sounds more possible now than ever.
  9. Jubilee

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ram's horn"

    • Description:

      Jubilee has a joyous and jubilant aura, but it wouldn't be an easy name to carry, what with all that pressure to be a living, breathing, 24-7 party. Jubilee was the name selected by television's Duggars for their miscarried child.
  10. Justice

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "the quality of being just, impartial, or fair"

    • Description:

      Justice, one of the rare virtue names for boys, entered the popularity ranks in 1992, and has remained on the list ever since. Parents' search for names implying virtue has led to a mini-revival of this long-neglected name in both its German homonymic form, Justus, and as the word itself. Steven Seagal was ahead of the curve when he used it back in 1976.
  11. Bliss

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot.
  12. Solstice

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "when the sun stands still"

    • Description:

      Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).
  13. Vesper

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "evening star"

    • Description:

      While this is usually thought of as a girls' name because of the Bond Girl connection, its sound is masculine and there's no reason it couldn't work for boys.
  14. Journey

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "passage from one place to another"

    • Description:

      One of the new word names, appealing to parents attracted to the idea of a spiritual -- or even an actual -- voyage. The Journee spelling is also being used. Unisex alert: Jenna Jameson used Journey for one of her twin boys, as did the Black Eyed Peas rock musician known as Taboo.
  15. Earnest

    • Description:

      Earnest is a masculine name of English origin that developed from the word 'earnest,' meaning 'serious,' 'sincere,' or 'determined.' The name gained popularity during the Victorian era when virtue names were fashionable and personal qualities were considered appropriate inspirations for given names. Oscar Wilde's 1895 play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' playfully highlighted the name's association with seriousness and sincerity. Throughout the early 20th century, Earnest maintained moderate popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, before gradually declining after the 1950s. Often confused with Ernest (without the 'a'), this spelling variant has always been less common. The name conveys qualities of dedication, sincerity, and moral seriousness, making it appealing to parents who value these traditional virtues.

  16. Experience

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      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.
  17. Legend

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "hero or fable"

    • Description:

      Legend joins cousins Story, Saga and Fable in the baby name pantheon of narrative words. Unlike Story and Fable, however, Legend comes with additional weight, being used for fame ("living legend") and to denote a person who is fantastic "what a legend"). Who can live up to that?
  18. Worth

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "enclosure, homestead"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "a statement offered in explanation or justification"

    • Description:

      Provocative word name that may strike the right chord for an adventurous baby namer.
  20. Merit

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "being good or worthy; deserving of recognition"

    • Description:

      Merritt is an English surname but spelled Merit it becomes a word name. Both variations are on the rise.