The baby name Grace might be the ultimate virtue name.
Thanks to Melissa for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
BEAUTY, JOY, CREATIVITY
In Greek mythology, a trio of goddesses reigned over beauty, creativity, and joy. The Charites played all sorts of roles in many a story, from party planner to stylist to more serious endeavors. The Romans called them the Gratiae – the Graces.
They’re depicted often by artists, including Botticelli and Raphael.
AMAZING GRACE
The Latin idea of grace feels broad – it could refer to pleasing qualities, to gratitude or good will. Over the years, the meaning has narrowed in some ways.
The concept of divine grace exists in the New Testament – the word charis is used. Many world religions, including Islam, have similar concepts. It means, roughly, that God freely offers salvation to believers. “The grace of God” refers to that mercy.
Christians say grace – a simple prayer offered before meals. And they discuss grace as a weighty theological matter. Catholics pray the Hail Mary “full of grace.”
The two meet in perhaps the most popular hymn of all time, “Amazing Grace.” Written in the eighteenth century, the story behind it inspired a 2006 movie.
GRACEFUL
This makes the baby name Grace deeply religious.
And yet, it’s also a secular virtue.
We’ve describing ballerinas as graceful in movement since the fifteenth century.
Royals are sometimes styled “your Grace.” And you might hear the phrase “grace us with your presence.”
The various uses echo the word’s original meanings – especially beauty. But they go farther, too. “Grace under fire” refers to composure while facing pressure.
PURITAN VIRTUE NAME
We tend to credit the Puritans for embracing this name in the late sixteenth century.
The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources notes that, while mostly true in English, this is one virtue name that predates the religious reformers.
But there’s no question that Grace became a mainstream name for settlers in the New World.
NINETEENTH & EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY STAPLE
By the nineteenth century, the name can be found in steady use throughout the English-speaking world.
The baby name Grace ranked in the US Top Twenty from 1880 through 1908. It remained in the Top 100 through most of the 1930s.
KELLY AND SLICK
No surprise that we can think of lots of famous women named Grace:
- Gracie Allen and George Burns performed as a husband-and-wife comedy team from the 1920s into the 1950s.
- Elvis Presley bought Graceland for his parents in 1957; it’s name for a real-life Grace, the daughter of the original property owner, Grace Toof.
- Hollywood celebrity Grace Kelly became real-life royalty when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. Kelly earned a Best Actress Oscar in 1954, but retired to reign.
The new Princess of Monaco was wildly popular, admired for her beauty and style – a living embodiment of the name. But even her popularity couldn’t reverse a downward trends in parents choosing the baby name Grace for their daughters.
By the latter half of the century, famous Graces were very different:
- Singer Grace Slick, of 1960s legendary rock group Jefferson Airplane, sang decade-defining anthems like “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.”
- Grace Jones started her career as a model, branched out into music, and then took on acting roles, including Bond villain May Day in 1985’s A View to a Kill.
REVIVAL
By the 1970s, Grace barely held on to the upper 300s in the US, reaching a low of #398 in 1977.
But the baby name Grace slowly found favor once more.
Maybe it was the edgier image of Jones. Or maybe it had just been enough time. By 1995, Grace returned to the US Top 100, a solid century or more after it last peaked.
In 1998, NBC introduced us to Grace Adler, one half of Will & Grace, and the name suddenly felt even more like a fresh option. Even if Will & Grace is a sitcom, Grace Adler is a successful, creative business owner and a good friend – it’s easy to imagine the character pushing her name up the popularity charts.
Grace appeals to parents, both devout and secular, as a meaningful choice. Unlike many modern word names, Grace feels traditional and storied. It’s less daring than Journey or Trinity. And the name’s spare, but feminine style, appeals to the same parents who might consider Anne or Rose, Claire or Jane.
The name peaked at #13 in 2003/2004. As of 2018, it stands at #24. That makes Grace a powerfully popular choice, rich with significance and a story to tell – but far more flexible than some might imagine.
Would you consider the baby name Grace?
First published on May 14, 2010, this post was revised substantially and re-published on May 20, 2020.
I named my second daughter Grace in 1997 because no one had anything bad to say about it and it seemed totally feminine and old fashioned- she wouldn’t have to be one of 10 Grace’s in her classroom (as a Jennifer that is important to me!). Also, my eldest is named Savannah and I thought the names sounded pretty together as a sibling set. Then NBC struck the following year with the show Will & Grace and suddenly there were tons of little Grace’s being born. I still have not forgiven them!
We are due with our third child, and second girl, in a short couple of weeks. Her name will be Grace Ramona. The middle is in honor of my beloved grandmother who passed in 2012. I had sadly dismissed Grace for years because of popularity, but it is simply the name I know she should have. After finally deciding that I don’t care about its popularity, it seems that it isn’t much used in our area. There is only one Grace in my son’s entire elementary school, and none of any age at our church. It was a pleasent surprise. I’m rather obsessed with the idea of personal emblems, and Grace’s has already become the swan. I think it is a name that will serve her well, and if she does crave something more unusual, there is always Ramona waiting in the wings. Caleb and Annabel can hardly wait to meet their baby sister, or, as Annabel calls her, little Gracie.
Oh, Kristin – what a lovely name! And I’m so glad you’ve found the perfect fit for your daughter.
And swans – SWANS! I do love swans. Amazing emblem.
Thank you! My mother-in-law got us the sweetest little swan print to put above her crib, and it just got the ball rolling. 🙂