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Temperence

♀ Girl

Pronounced TEM-per-uhns /ˈtɛmpərəns/Low

Meaning: Temperence is a spelling variant of Temperance, one of the Puritan virtue names, from the Latin temperantia, 'moderation' or 'self-control.' Like Patience and Prudence, it was given as a moral wish for the child.Low

In 30 seconds: Temperence is a variant of Temperance, an English virtue name meaning 'moderation' or 'self-restraint.' It was never common and peaked in the twenty-tens (said TEM-per-uhns).

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Origin LowEnglish, Latin

MeaningTemperence is a spelling variant of Temperance, one of the Puritan virtue names, from the Latin temperantia, 'moderation' or 'self-control.' Like Patience and Prudence, it was given as a moral wish for the child.

U.S. rank (2020)#17281 ↘ Falling

2020 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 77

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Temperence is a modern spelling of Temperance, from the Latin temperantia, 'moderation.' It belongs with Patience, Prudence and Verity among the virtue names of the sixteen- and seventeen-hundreds, and returned to light American use in the twenty-first century, helped by its appearance on television.

It was always rare, given to only about sixteen girls a year even at its peak in the twenty-tens. A girl named Temperence then is still a child or teenager today.

Did you know? Temperance was one of the abstract virtue names the Puritans favored, and it drew fresh attention through the television character Temperance Brennan, which helped return it to modern birth records.

Overall data confidence 42%

References - Temperence — Variant of Temperance (Latin temperantia, 'moderation'); Puritan virtue name

Variations

TemperanceTemperince

Nicknames

TempeAnce

Famous Bearers

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If you like Temperence…

Temperance— the standard spelling of this virtue name

Patience— a like Puritan virtue name

Prudence— a similar virtue name in style

Verity— a like abstract-virtue girl's name

Explore names like Temperence

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Temperence mean?

It is a variant of Temperance, from the Latin for 'moderation' or 'self-restraint.'

How do you pronounce Temperence?

It is said TEM-per-uhns /ˈtɛmpərəns/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Temperence a boy or girl name?

Temperence is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Temperence?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about sixteen girls a year at its peak in the twenty-tens.