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Home › Baby Names Directory › Temple

Temple

♂ Boy

Pronounced TEM-pul /ˈtɛmpəl/High

Meaning: From the English word temple, 'a place of worship,' and an established surname (originally for someone near a temple or of the Knights Templar). A serene, distinctive word name.Low

In 30 seconds: A serene word name: Temple names a place of worship, and is a surname too (said 'TEM-pul'). Calm and distinctive.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningFrom the English word temple, 'a place of worship,' and an established surname (originally for someone near a temple or of the Knights Templar). A serene, distinctive word name.
U.S. rank (2024)#10755 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 828

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196418882024

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

Temple draws on the English word for a place of worship and on the surname of the same root, once marking someone near a temple or linked to the Templars. As a given name it reads serene and distinctive. Calm and grounded (said 'TEM-pul').

In the U.S. it appears rarely as a given name, a quiet word-and-surname pick. Serene, distinctive, and uncommon.

Did you know? Temple comes from the word for a place of worship and doubles as a surname tied to the Knights Templar - a calm, distinctive name (said 'TEM-pul').
Overall data confidence 45%
References — Temple — Word name 'place of worship'; also a surname

Variations

Templeton

Nicknames

TemTemp

Famous Bearers

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If you like Temple…

Chapel— a like place-of-worship word name
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Frequently Asked

What does the name Temple mean?

Temple names a place of worship and is also a surname.

How do you pronounce Temple?

It's said TEM-pul /ˈtɛmpəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Temple a boy or girl name?

Here Temple is used as a boy's name; it reads gently unisex.

How popular is Temple?

Temple is a rare, distinctive word name for boys in the U.S.

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