Patience
How to say it: PAY-shuns · /ˈpeɪʃəns/
From the Latin virtue word 'patientia'; used as a Puritan virtue name meaning the quality of patient endurance.
Patience was the 1,086th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 172 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 29% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,226 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,086 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 172 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,275 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −29% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,226 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After its fullest showing in the 2000s, Patience remains well used. Close to that high now, it is likely to move a little lower ahead.
What goes with it
Breathy and gentle, Patience carries the weight of a virtue name. Mercy shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Patience is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Famous people named Patience
- Patience Ozokwor (born 1958)Nigerian actress
- Patience Dabany (born 1937)Gabonese musician
- Patience Jonathan (born 1957)Former First Lady of Nigeria and permanent secretary in Bayelsa
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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