Temperance
Temperance is a primarily feminine given name, usually given in reference to the virtue of moderation. Temperance was among the virtue names in regular use by Puritan families in the 1500s and 1600s. The name was among the top 150 names used for girls in the 1790s in the United States, the time period when it was most popular.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Temperance
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Temperance is a primarily feminine given name, usually given in reference to the virtue of moderation. Temperance was among the virtue names in regular use by Puritan families in the 1500s and 1600s. The name was among the top 150 names used for girls in the 1790s in the United States, the time period when it was most popular.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Temperance
Temperance first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 323 Temperances were born — ranking #851 that year. As of 2026, Temperance ranks #2,342 for baby girls with 79 births, falling sharply (-38%). In total, more than 4K Temperances have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Temperance
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Temperance Flowerdew (1590-1628), an early settler of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia
- Temperance Wick (1758–1822), American Revolutionary War heroine
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Temperance
Phonetically similar names — useful when Temperance is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Temprano
- Temperas
- Tempering
- Terrance
- Terrence
- Terence
- Tempera
- Temporize
- Intemperance
- Tempus
- Tambourines
- Temperaments
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Temperance
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About the name Temperance
Temperance is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Temperance's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #834. Use the chart and map above to compare Temperance's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.