Baby Name of the Day: Credence

The baby name Credence matches a powerful meaning with an appealing sound.

Thanks to Faith for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME CREDENCE MEAN?

The English word credence has Latin roots.

In Latin, credere means to trust or to believe. Credentia meant belief, and from that word comes our word credence, with the same meaning.

It’s possible to lend credence – to provide facts or arguments that support a theory. And we can give credence to information. 

Credentials – a document that proves the bearers’ standing – shares the same root.

A credence table may be used in a Catholic mass to hold items required for communion. And a credenza – the Italian form of the word – is a piece of furniture, a sideboard. Back in the sixteenth century, credenza referred to the act of having a servant test food for poison. Which is a pretty wild backstory for a humble sideboard!

Twists and turns aside, ultimately credence means belief, and that makes this a fitting possibility as a virtue name.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

You might also think of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the late 1960s band, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band. The members were all from San Francisco, but they played Southern rock and protest music.

Where did their name come from? They were originally named The Golliwogs, but their first record label requested a change. Clearwater comes from a beer commercial, while Revival was chosen to signal the band members’ commitment to their music.

But Creedence? That comes from Credence Newball, a friend of band member Tom Fogerty.

So yes, Credence has most definitely been used as a given name.

The ‘ee’ spelling was probably a nod to the word creed – which shares the same Latin roots discussed above. Or maybe even a misspelling on the part of the band. 

The band lends a sort of edgy, throwback Americana vibe to a word that would otherwise be quite serious.

CREDENCE IN FANTASTIC BEASTS

When we first meet Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, he’s living as the adopted child of a religious zealot in 1926 New York City.

The character’s distinctive name matches his siblings, sisters Modesty and Chastity. 

The 2016 film introduced Credence and suggested there was more to his story than we initially observed. In fact, we learn more about his powers as well as his true identity over the course of the first movie, as well as two sequels. 

Actor Ezra Miller played Credence. 

Fantastic Beasts is a trilogy of movies, a prequel to the original Harry Potter films. While they were popular, they did not approach the runaway success of the original books and movies. 

THE RISE OF PURPOSE NAMES

Virtue names comprise a significant category of names. Some have been around for ages, associated with the Puritans, as well as 1960s counter-culture.

For every Mercy, there’s a Harmony. 

In more recent generations, we’ve moved beyond simple virtues to purpose names. Serenity. Chosen. Psalm.

Oh, and Creed.

While Creed owes much to popular culture and the Rocky movie sequels focused on Adonis Creed, it fits neatly with this trend.

It comes directly from the Latin word credo, meaning to believe. That makes it a cousin to Credence, though a more popular one in the United States right now.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME CREDENCE?

The baby name Credence fits in with names ending in -ce: Candace, Cadence, Florence, and Prudence for girls. On the boys’ side, classic Lawrence and Clarence share the same familiar sound.

A very small number of Credences pre-date the 21st century.  

Credence first debuted in the US popularity data for boys in 2013, with six births. Five girls were named Credence in 2014, putting it in the girls’ data for the first time. 

To some, Credence might read as an uncommon unisex name.

But the numbers give this one to the boys:

• In 2024, 17 boys were named Credence
• An additional 36 boys were named Creedence

Fewer than five girls received either spelling of the name. 

That’s pretty rare, but pronunciation is reasonably straightforward, which keeps the baby name Credence wearable.

Now about spelling. Creedence, with two Es, is the more popular choice. That’s almost certainly down to the use of Creed as a personal name. As of 2024, Creed ranked #612 in the US. 

Creede and Creeden are also seen for boys. That suggests that some parents use variations like Creeden and Creedence to get to Creed as a nickname. 

MEANINGFUL CHOICE

Overall, the baby name Credence makes a meaningful first or middle name. It’s rich with belief and authenticity – spiritual, but not necessarily religious. There’s a strength and sincerity to Credence.

If you’re after a name that is rich with meaning, and feels different without being burdensome, Credence is one to consider.

What do you think of the baby name Credence?

First published on June 15, 2015, this post was revised on March 10, 2026.