Given name
Temperance
“having self-restraint”
Temperance is used as a given name. One English interpretation is “having self-restraint.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “having self-restraint.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Temperance through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,709
- 0 boys · 3,709 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 324 babies
- 2025
- 94
- #2,034 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −40%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 94 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,034 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 40.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 324 in 2014. In 2025, New York and Ohio and Wisconsin shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,663 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Temperance’s family of names
Temperance has a related form in Temperancia. Temperance has a related form in Temperanse. Temperance has a related form in Temperence.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Temperance
Characters named Temperance: Temperance "Bones" Brennan (the television series Bones).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Temperance, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Patience
“one who is patient; an enduring woman”
1% boys · 99% girls
Charis
“having grace and kindness”
3% boys · 97% girls
Rayann
“an innocent woman full of grace”
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Canika
“a woman shining with grace”
23% boys · 77% girls
Esperance
“filled with hope”
>99% girls
Annmarie
“filled with bitter grace”
>99% girls
ܣܒܪܝܢܐ
“hope”
>99% girls
Prudence
“one who is cautious and exercises good judgment”
>99% girls