Given name & surname · also English
Patience
“one who is patient; an enduring woman”
Patience is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “one who is patient; an enduring woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “one who is patient; an enduring woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Patience through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,469
- 44 boys · 12,425 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 508 babies
- 2025
- 172
- #1,297 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 172 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,297 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 508 in 2006. In 2025, Florida and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (14 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,871 as a first name in 2020; 504 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Patience’s family of names
Patience has a related form in Paciencia. Patience has a related form in Pacencia. Patience has a related form in Pacienca.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Patience
- Patience OzokworNigerian actressborn 1958
- Patience DabanyGabonese musicianborn 1937
- Patience CooperIndian actress (1905-1983)
- Patience Jonathanformer First Lady of Nigeria and permanent secretary in Bayelsaborn 1957
- Patience Okon GeorgeNigerian sprinterborn 1991
- Patience Mthunzi-KufaSouth African laser scientistborn 1976
- Patience ItanyiNigerian athleteborn 1973
- Patience TorloweiNigerian fashion designerborn 1964
- Patience Oghre ImobhioNigerian actressborn 1950
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Patience, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Charis
“having grace and kindness”
3% boys · 97% girls
Temperance
“having self-restraint”
>99% girls
Esperanza
“hope” · “filled with hope”
>99% girls
Rayann
“an innocent woman full of grace”
>99% girls
Prudencja
“prudence”
—
Canika
“a woman shining with grace”
23% boys · 77% girls
Shontae
“filled with hope”
1% boys · 99% girls
Gracja
“grace, charm”
>99% girls