Is Horace a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Horace is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Horace?

It’s currently ranked #906 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Horace?

HOR-iss · IPA: //ˈhɔːr.ɪs//

Horace Boy

Popularity: #906 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationHOR-iss / /ˈhɔːr.ɪs/

Latin; Old French

Meaning

Latin: 'timekeeper'; Old French: 'brave'

Historical & Cultural Background

Horace is derived from the Latin name 'Horatius', which was borne by a famous Roman poet known for his works on philosophy and morality. The name has been used in various cultures, particularly in Europe, since the Middle Ages. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century. Horace is often associated with qualities of wisdom and bravery.

Trend Summary

Horace has seen fluctuating popularity in the US, with a notable decline in usage since the mid-20th century.

Variants

Horacio
Horus

International Variants

Horacio (Spanish)
Orazio (Italian)
Horace (French)

Famous people named Horace

Horace Mann was an American educational reformer known for his advocacy of public education.

Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor and founder of the New-York Tribune.

Horace Andy is a Jamaican reggae singer known for his distinctive voice and collaborations with various artists.

Horace Silver was an influential American jazz pianist and composer.

Fictional characters named Horace

Horace Slughorn is a character in the 'Harry Potter' series, known for being a Potions professor.

Horace the Horse is a character in the animated series 'The Adventures of Paddington Bear'.

Sibling Suggestions

Hugo Henry Harold Harrison Hector Harlan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Horace was first seen in the United States in 1880. Horace has ranked as high as #289 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina. In the past 5 years the name Horace has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Horace (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
ME	5	100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	199
1881	152
1882	176
1883	167
1884	154
1885	155
1886	156
1887	160
1888	165
1889	166
1890	162
1891	165
1892	187
1893	171
1894	196
1895	211
1896	204
1897	160
1898	189
1899	169
1900	244
1901	178
1902	199
1903	175
1904	205
1905	212
1906	202
1907	223
1908	235
1909	252
1910	261
1911	300
1912	615
1913	657
1914	840
1915	1,114
1916	1,106
1917	1,182
1918	1,199
1919	1,215
1920	1,276
1921	1,313
1922	1,251
1923	1,242
1924	1,166
1925	1,140
1926	1,107
1927	1,180
1928	1,098
1929	1,004
1930	973
1931	931
1932	883
1933	865
1934	816
1935	788
1936	691
1937	745
1938	723
1939	711
1940	661
1941	742
1942	729
1943	684
1944	648
1945	598
1946	669
1947	741
1948	719
1949	685
1950	687
1951	602
1952	646
1953	655
1954	611
1955	548
1956	539
1957	547
1958	432
1959	452
1960	419
1961	383
1962	343
1963	320
1964	350
1965	306
1966	271
1967	273
1968	248
1969	226
1970	241
1971	255
1972	204
1973	174
1974	174
1975	146
1976	163
1977	158
1978	146
1979	155
1980	122
1981	125
1982	141
1983	115
1984	112
1985	99
1986	104
1987	83
1988	103
1989	114
1990	105
1991	112
1992	91
1993	90
1994	81
1995	70
1996	61
1997	47
1998	50
1999	46
2000	60
2001	59
2002	38
2003	38
2004	48
2005	35
2006	30
2007	27
2008	28
2009	21
2010	28
2011	35
2012	26
2013	17
2014	40
2015	23
2016	23
2017	28
2018	20
2019	22
2020	18
2021	17
2022	22
2023	18
2024	18