Prudence
Girl name · Anglo Saxon · English · Latin
Meaninggood judgment · English
- US rank
- #2,099
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #403 in 1880
89 babies were named Prudence in the US in 2025. It has climbed 57 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Prudence you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 18,051 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Prudence, 89 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Prudence would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPrudence has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Prudences, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #403. Today it's #2,099, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowPrudence is 10× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 181,818 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 18,051.
- TrendPrudence has climbed 57 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,099. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedPrudence is most popular in Oregon, where it ranks #483. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningIn English, Prudence means “good judgment”. Our records link it to Anglo Saxon, English and Latin roots.
About the name Prudence
Prudence is a girl name of Anglo Saxon, English and Latin origin meaning “good judgment”. It has 8 letters and 2 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-nce”. US birth records list Prudence for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #403 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #2,099, with 89 babies.
Origin:Anglo Saxon namesEnglish namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 102 | 9,785 girls |
| 1890s | 81 | 12,358 girls |
| 1900s | 74 | 13,477 girls |
| 1910s | 54 | 18,409 girls |
| 1920s | 53 | 18,875 girls |
| 1930s | 51 | 19,531 girls |
| 1940s | 67 | 15,008 girls |
| 1950s | 29 | 34,554 girls |
| 1960s | 19 | 52,383 girls |
| 1970s | 35 | 28,902 girls |
| 1980s | 6.9 | 144,300 girls |
| 1990s | 3.9 | 257,732 girls |
| 2000s | 13 | 74,349 girls |
| 2010s | 45 | 22,202 girls |
| 2020s | 50 | 19,848 girls |
More Anglo Saxon girl names
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Audrey · noble strength
- Girl name: Gemma · gem
- Girl name: Esme · esteemed
- Girl name: Gwendolyn · white ring
- Girl name: Florence · flourishing
- Girl name: Bonnie · pretty
- Girl name: Edith · prosperous in war
Questions about the name Prudence
What does the name Prudence mean?
Prudence means “good judgment” in English.
What is the origin of the name Prudence?
Prudence has Anglo Saxon, English, Latin roots in our records. Other Anglo Saxon names include Daisy, Audrey, Gemma.
Is Prudence a boy or girl name?
Prudence is a girl name.
How popular is the name Prudence?
Prudence ranked #2,099 for US girls in 2025, given to 89 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#403).