Horace Boy

Popularity: #924 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HOR-iss //ˈhɔːr.ɪs//

Origin: Latin; Old French

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

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Horace originates from the Latin name "Horatius," which is derived from the ancient Roman family name "Horatius." The etymology of Horatius is uncertain, but it is often linked to the Latin word "hora," meaning "hour" or "time," suggesting a possible association with timekeeping or the passage of time. The name entered the English language through the influence of Latin during the Roman occupation of Britain and later through the Renaissance, when classical texts were rediscovered and translated into English.

Historically, the name Horace is most notably associated with the Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, commonly known as Horace, who lived from 65 to 8 BCE. His works, including the "Odes" and "Satires," have had a lasting impact on Western literature and have been referenced by numerous writers throughout history.

The name gained further prominence in the English-speaking world through the translation of his works during the Renaissance, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, when classical literature was highly esteemed. Culturally, the name Horace has been associated with themes of poetry, philosophy, and the arts, reflecting the legacy of its most famous bearer.

The name has also been used in various literary and artistic contexts, symbolizing creativity and intellectual pursuit. In addition, diminutive forms such as "Horry" have emerged in some cultures, though they are less commonly referenced.

Overall, the name Horace carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its classical origins and the enduring influence of its literary associations.

Famous people named Horace

In this section, you will find notable people named Horace. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Horace who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Horace who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Horace Greeley is a newspaper editor and politician best known for founding the New-York Tribune, advocating for the abolition of slavery, and promoting westward expansion.

Horace Silver is a jazz pianist and composer best known for his work with the Horace Silver Quintet, and albums such as Song for My Father and Cape Verdean Blues.

Horace Andy is a reggae singer best known for his collaborations with Massive Attack and songs like Skylarking and Ain't No Sunshine.

Fictional characters named Horace

The following list of fictional characters named Horace is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Horace is a fictional character from the animated film 101 Dalmatians. He is one of the bumbling henchmen working for the villain Cruella de Vil.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Horace, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Horace. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Horace was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Horace has ranked as high as #302 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, 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)

The name Horace is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Horace was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Horace.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 14 14 0
2024 18 18 0
2023 18 18 0
2022 22 22 0
2021 17 17 0
2020 18 18 0
2019 22 22 0
2018 20 20 0
2017 28 28 0
2016 23 23 0
2015 23 23 0
2014 40 40 0
2013 17 17 0
2012 26 26 0
2011 35 35 0
2010 28 28 0
2009 21 21 0
2008 28 28 0
2007 27 27 0
2006 30 30 0
2005 35 35 0
2004 48 48 0
2003 38 38 0
2002 38 38 0
2001 59 59 0
2000 60 60 0
1999 46 46 0
1998 50 50 0
1997 47 47 0
1996 61 61 0
1995 70 70 0
1994 81 81 0
1993 90 90 0
1992 91 91 0
1991 112 112 0
1990 105 105 0
1989 114 114 0
1988 103 103 0
1987 83 83 0
1986 104 104 0
1985 99 99 0
1984 112 112 0
1983 115 115 0
1982 141 141 0
1981 125 125 0
1980 122 122 0
1979 155 155 0
1978 146 146 0
1977 158 158 0
1976 163 163 0
1975 146 146 0
1974 174 174 0
1973 174 174 0
1972 204 204 0
1971 255 255 0
1970 241 241 0
1969 226 226 0
1968 247 247 0
1967 273 273 0
1966 271 271 0
1965 306 306 0
1964 350 350 0
1963 320 320 0
1962 348 343 5
1961 389 383 6
1960 424 419 5
1959 453 453 0
1958 432 432 0
1957 554 546 8
1956 539 539 0
1955 556 548 8
1954 611 611 0
1953 660 654 6
1952 647 647 0
1951 607 602 5
1950 687 687 0
1949 698 685 13
1948 726 719 7
1947 741 741 0
1946 669 669 0
1945 598 598 0
1944 648 648 0
1943 690 684 6
1942 730 730 0
1941 741 741 0
1940 661 661 0
1939 718 711 7
1938 728 723 5
1937 753 745 8
1936 691 691 0
1935 788 788 0
1934 823 816 7
1933 873 865 8
1932 889 883 6
1931 931 931 0
1930 978 973 5
1929 1,014 1,004 10
1928 1,105 1,098 7
1927 1,191 1,180 11
1926 1,116 1,107 9
1925 1,151 1,140 11
1924 1,166 1,166 0
1923 1,251 1,242 9
1922 1,251 1,251 0
1921 1,313 1,313 0
1920 1,283 1,276 7
1919 1,221 1,215 6
1918 1,199 1,199 0
1917 1,182 1,182 0
1916 1,106 1,106 0
1915 1,125 1,114 11
1914 846 840 6
1913 657 657 0
1912 615 615 0
1911 300 300 0
1910 261 261 0
1909 252 252 0
1908 235 235 0
1907 223 223 0
1906 202 202 0
1905 212 212 0
1904 205 205 0
1903 175 175 0
1902 199 199 0
1901 178 178 0
1900 244 244 0
1899 169 169 0
1898 189 189 0
1897 160 160 0
1896 204 204 0
1895 211 211 0
1894 196 196 0
1893 171 171 0
1892 187 187 0
1891 165 165 0
1890 162 162 0
1889 166 166 0
1888 165 165 0
1887 160 160 0
1886 156 156 0
1885 155 155 0
1884 154 154 0
1883 167 167 0
1882 176 176 0
1881 152 152 0
1880 199 199 0

Top States for Horace (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
ME 5
100%