Prudence

“Good judgment” — Latin origin

Girl's name · #2113 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Prudence belongs to an older America first — it reached #415 back in 1880 — yet it still appears in today's records at #2113. About 6,300 girls have carried it since 1880. Prudence's short forms are Prudy and Prue.

Around the world: about 1 in 18,000 girls in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 7 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Prudences

Prudence Crandall — Civil rights pioneer, educator, temperance advocate, Connecticut's official State Heroine (1803-1890)
Prudence Heward — Canadian artist (1896-1947)
Prudence Sekgodiso — South African middle-distance runner (born 2002)
Prudence Liew — Hong Kong singer and actress
Prudence Nobantu Mabele — South African activist (1971-2017)

In stories & tradition

Prudence (Prue Halliwell) — Charmed
Prudence Leighton — Earth-616
Prudence Prufrock — Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins

What Prudences become

Among 65 notable people named Prudence:

Entertainers appear 1.79× more often than among typical names — e.g. Prudence Liew, Hong Kong singer and actress.

Similar names: Lavinia · Primrose · Kadence · Junia · Emeline · Valentine

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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