Is Prudence a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Prudence is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Prudence?

It’s currently ranked #882 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Prudence?

PROO-dens · IPA: //ˈpruː.dəns//

Prudence Girl

Popularity: #882 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationPROO-dens / /ˈpruː.dəns/

Latin; English

Meaning

Latin: 'caution, discretion'; English: 'good judgment'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Prudence has its roots in the Latin word 'prudentia', which means wisdom or foresight. It was used in medieval times and became popular in English-speaking countries during the Puritan era. Prudence is also one of the cardinal virtues in Christian theology, representing the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. The name has been borne by various saints and is often associated with moral integrity.

Trend Summary

The name Prudence has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the early 20th century.

Variants

Prudy
Prue

International Variants

Prudence (French)
Prudencia (Spanish)
Prudência (Portuguese)

Famous people named Prudence

Prudence Wright Holmes was an American actress known for her work in theater and film.

Prudence Farrow is an American actress and author, recognized for her role in the film 'Rosemary's Baby'.

Prudence Leith is a South African restaurateur and television presenter, famous for her role on 'The Great British Bake Off'.

Prudence Hyman is a notable British artist known for her contemporary paintings.

Fictional characters named Prudence

Prudence is a character in the novel 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett, known for her strong moral compass.

Prudence is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball', often portrayed as a sensible and responsible figure.

Sibling Suggestions

Patience Verity Charity Hope Faith Temperance

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Prudence was first seen in the United States in 1880. Prudence has ranked as high as #799 nationally, which occurred in 1943, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Massachusetts. In the past 5 years the name Prudence has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Prudence (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
IN	7	58%
OH	5	42%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	17
1881	9
1882	7
1883	11
1884	8
1885	14
1886	19
1887	10
1888	20
1889	17
1890	19
1891	15
1892	16
1893	22
1894	21
1895	14
1896	17
1897	12
1898	27
1899	16
1900	28
1901	18
1902	22
1903	19
1904	19
1905	17
1906	22
1907	25
1908	17
1909	30
1910	18
1911	22
1912	39
1913	40
1914	29
1915	42
1916	58
1917	74
1918	67
1919	55
1920	74
1921	55
1922	58
1923	57
1924	63
1925	84
1926	66
1927	75
1928	51
1929	51
1930	58
1931	46
1932	49
1933	49
1934	46
1935	56
1936	51
1937	57
1938	66
1939	69
1940	65
1941	68
1942	106
1943	140
1944	110
1945	96
1946	102
1947	103
1948	86
1949	76
1950	64
1951	65
1952	64
1953	66
1954	55
1955	48
1956	59
1957	54
1958	33
1959	43
1960	38
1961	36
1962	44
1963	42
1964	36
1965	36
1966	35
1967	32
1968	25
1969	26
1970	64
1971	104
1972	77
1973	71
1974	47
1975	48
1976	47
1977	25
1978	22
1979	32
1980	14
1981	19
1982	17
1983	13
1984	7
1985	12
1986	14
1987	8
1988	6
1989	8
1990	8
1991	10
1992	7
1993	5
1994	8
1995	12
1996	6
1997	7
1998	7
2000	10
2001	10
2002	15
2003	17
2004	22
2005	24
2006	31
2007	30
2008	36
2009	55
2010	60
2011	82
2012	53
2013	77
2014	61
2015	69
2016	81
2017	96
2018	96
2019	109
2020	83
2021	71
2022	99
2023	79
2024	68