Modest as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Modest

What is the meaning of the name Modest ?

The baby name Modest is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɒd.ɪst/ (UK), /ˈmɑː.dɪst/ (US) — MOD-est.

Modest is Latin in Origin.

Modest derives from Latin Modestus, meaning “moderate, humble, restrained.” Through Christian liturgical usage the name entered many European languages; in English it functions both as a transferred virtue name and as an adaptation of the Latin saint’s name. While uncommon in the Anglosphere, it carries a dignified, old‑world tone with an ethical gloss.

The name’s visibility comes from several saints - most notably Modestus, Patriarch of Jerusalem (7th century), and the companion of St. Vitus - ensuring steady use in ecclesiastical calendars. It flourished in Eastern Europe; the Russian form Modest (Модест) is familiar via the composer Modest Mussorgsky. Variants include Modesto (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese), Modeste (French), Modest (English, Russian, Polish, Romanian), and scholarly Modestus in Latin. Feminine counterparts are Modesta (Romance languages), Modeste in French, and the English virtue name Modesty. The core meaning emphasizes humility, self‑control, and measured character.