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Prudence as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Prudence

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The baby name Prudence is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpruːdəns/ (PROO-dens).

Prudence is Latin in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: /ˈpruːdəns/ (PROO-dens)

What is the meaning of the name Prudence ?

The baby name Prudence is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpruːdəns/ (PROO-dens).

Prudence is Latin in Origin.

Prudence is an English feminine given name from Middle English via Anglo-Norman/Old French Prudence, ultimately from Latin Prudentia “prudence, practical wisdom, foresight,” from prudens “wise, foreseeing.” It denotes sound judgment, self-control, and measured foresight, qualities praised in classical philosophy and Christian moral teaching. As a personified cardinal virtue (prudentia), it featured in medieval allegory, and 16th-century English parish registers record it with some regularity.

The name appears in medieval England but gained greatest currency among 16th–17th-century Puritans and Quakers, then crossed to Colonial New England; it saw a modest Victorian afterlife, declined in the 20th century, and now enjoys occasional vintage revival. International variants include Prudentia (Latin), Prudence (French), Prudencia (Spanish), Prudenza (Italian), Prudência (Portuguese), and Prudencja (Polish); related masculine forms are Prudentius and Prudencio. Common short forms are Prue and Pru.

Prudence has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Prudence

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Prudence Farrow Maureen O'Sullivan television actor John Farrow film director

Prudence – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
BI Boys 0 #42 3 917
CM 0 #50 7 2,592
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
JM 0 #91 3 3,714
ZA Girls 0 #91 5,280 25,928
BW Girls 0 #121 28 4,216
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
CM Girls 0 #159 729 11,671
NA Girls 0 #205 20 7,146
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
AO Girls 0 #215 3 4,575
JM Girls 0 #216 44 7,507
GH 0 #246 3 5,396
GR Girls 0 #249 1 6,293
JP Girls 0 #250 2 6,592
MO Girls 0 #259 5 7,056
NG 0 #266 7 5,926
ZA 0 #269 180 14,421
Canada Girls 2024 #278 8 2,795
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
TW Girls 0 #287 3 8,139
GH Girls 0 #291 34 6,973
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
HK 0 #319 30 8,483
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
MU Girls 0 #330 22 8,539
MU Boys 0 #334 24 8,477
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
CN Girls 0 #353 7 8,829
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
GH Boys 0 #359 3 8,138
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
France Girls 2021 #389 17 3,185
OM Girls 0 #418 7 15,987
PH Girls 0 #426 4 13,098
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
CM Boys 0 #503 48 12,054
HK Girls 0 #517 99 16,104
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
NG Girls 0 #526 285 15,093
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
KW Girls 0 #560 2 19,177
SG Girls 0 #571 16 18,916
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
AE Girls 0 #592 6 20,968
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
LB 0 #689 2 13,263
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
KW Boys 0 #804 3 18,755
United States Girls 2024 #849 68 8,487
TN 0 #863 3 13,765
OM Boys 0 #914 5 17,948
NG Boys 0 #915 37 16,906
SA Girls 0 #925 11 25,931
NL Girls 0 #946 10 5,933
MY Girls 0 #972 23 24,821
ZA Boys 0 #1,024 155 25,619
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
MA 0 #1,116 13 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
DZ 0 #1,164 13 20,130
MY Boys 0 #1,181 2 25,439
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,420 27 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,691 1 28,008

Prudence is popular in 48 countries — most recent births per country:

France
United States
Canada
AE
AO

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People also ask about Prudence

Prudence is predominantly a girl's name.
Prudence is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈpruːdəns/ (PROO-dens).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Prudencia, Prudência, Prudenza, Prudentia, Prudie and Prudy.
Across languages, Prudence has these equivalents: Prudencia (Spanish), Prudência (Portuguese), Prudenza (Italian), Prudentia (Latin), Prudens / Prudencio (male equivalents).
Yes — Prudence ranked #278 in Canada in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Prudence ranks highest in Canada (#278 in 2024).
Prudence's popularity is declining. It moved from #384 in 2011 to #389 in 2021 in France.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Prudence for their child, including Maureen O'Sullivan and John Farrow.