Virtue Names

Tahira is a pretty Arabic virtue name, unusual yet accessible.

Peace may be an admirable sentiment to convey in a child's name, but the translated and thus more subtle versions, like Pax or Placido, might work better as first names.

Heavenly, the word that's become a name, has been flirting with the bottom of the Top 1000 for a handful of years now. Heaven and cousins like Nevaeh have been well-used so adding the popular -ly suffix, ala Everly, seems like a natural progression.

A warm-sounding word and virtue name used by the Puritans and still popular in parts of Africa, especially in the Favour spelling.

Sounds pretty. But pretentious.

A modern virtue name, particularly desirable in this pressure-cooker world.

Wonder is a lovely quality for a modern virtue name. With ethereal word names like Dream and Love rising fast in the charts, Wonder feels right at home.

Blessed and Blessing are two new entrants in the word name and virtue name categories, gaining popularity for both boys and girls.

While still very rare, the name Valiant was given to six baby boys in the US last year. And it's an inspiring choice.

Able takes this name in the direction of the word denoting someone capable and handle, and that is not a bad way to go.

Rare word name that works for either gender.

Spiritual word names are becoming more and more popular – think Peace, Bodhi, Zen and Psalm – and Spirit is among the rarer options, given to a couple dozen baby girls each year in the US. It's the name of the horse in the kids' TV show Spirit.

Many virtue names have long been in style or have seen a resurgence in recent years. Happy, however joyous, seems unlikely to join this trend. This could be because it doesn't have a solid history of being popularly used (in comparison to Joy or Hope) and because it's such a familiarly used word in day to day life (unlike Verity or Felicity).

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Finesse Mitchell often mocks his own and similar names when portraying the character Starkeisha on the show.

No one will ever forget it. But Remember as a name came over on the Mayflower, so it has deep history as well as modern potential.

The mythical daughter of Eros and Psyche becomes a modern-sounding word name. Danger: could be seen as X-rated.

Generally used in conjunction with another name to form a religious phrase -- for instance the daughter of rapper DMX is called Praise Mary Ella.

A would-be up-and-comer if it wasn't for the spiked seltzer brand.

Fortune is a middle name choice designed to generate good luck and prosperity.

One of the newest virtue names, given to only a handful of baby girls in the most recent year on record.