Prudence Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Prudence is a name of Latin origin, meaning wisdom or foresight, which has evolved through historical forms like Prudentia and Prudens. It carries connotations of careful judgment and is associated with a rich historical usage during the medieval period. The name lacks biblical relevance but is linked to positive traits. It has variants like Prudy and Prudie, and while it is seen as somewhat old-fashioned today, it remains connected to a legacy of wisdom.
The name Prudence is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Prudence has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Prudence' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 893rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 881st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1352nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1982nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7293rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4650th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2249th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Prudence' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Prudence"
Pronunciation
/ˈpruːdəns/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Prudence derives from the Latin word 'prudentia', which means 'foresight' or 'wisdom'. It entered the English language during the Middle Ages.
Meaning
wisdom, foresight
Language Evolution
Prudentia (Latin), Prudens (Latin, meaning 'wise'), Prudence (Middle English)
Historical Usage
The name Prudence gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the medieval period, particularly among Puritans in the 17th century who valued the trait of prudence.
Variants & Derivatives
Prudy, Prudie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Prudence is considered somewhat old-fashioned but is associated with qualities of wisdom and careful judgment.
Famous People
Prudence Crandall, an American educator and civil rights activist, Prudence Leith, a renowned British chef and television presenter
Explore More Prudence Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Prudence"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Prudence"
"Prudence" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 893rd of 9107 | 1,165 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 881st of 9204 | 1,234 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1352nd of 12526 | 1,114 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1982nd of 19264 | 705 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7293rd of 27321 | 160 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4650th of 35406 | 459 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2249th of 30306 | 989 |
Regional Popularity of "Prudence" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Prudence" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
61.23% 867th/1416 |
41.55% 573rd/1379 |
- |
92.64% 1058th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
50.45% 780th/1546 |
34.13% 531st/1556 |
83.34% 1961st/2353 |
67.49% 1044th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
57.52% 1281st/2227 |
39.42% 958th/2430 |
81.53% 2326th/2853 |
62.27% 1728th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
72.18% 2120th/2937 |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
70.58% 2483rd/3518 |
53.07% 2146th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
86.77% 4481st/5164 |
75.58% 5527th/7313 |
59.69% 4455th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
45.43% 1810th/3984 |
61.09% 2741st/4487 |
46.94% 3202nd/6822 |
49.41% 3101st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Prudence"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Prudence" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.