Horace
Horace is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Time, season, or belonging to the hour; historically linked to the Roman Horatia gens.
Origin and history
Horace is a male name of Latin origin, historically derived from the Roman family name Horatius. It was popularized in the English-speaking world in honor of the famous ancient Roman poet Horace. Although it was widely used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has become relatively uncommon in contemporary U.S. usage.
Popularity in the United States
54,154 babies in the United States have been named Horace since 1880. It ranks #478 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1820.
States where it is most popular
- GA (12.8 %)
- TX (9.8 %)
- NC (9 %)
- AL (8.1 %)
- SC (6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,650 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,814 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,125 |
| 1910-1920 | 8,489 |
| 1920-1930 | 11,777 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,126 |
| 1940-1950 | 6,876 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,719 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,138 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,816 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,118 |
| 1990-2000 | 753 |
| 2000-2010 | 384 |
| 2010-2019 | 262 |
| 2020-2029 | 107 |
Famous people named Horace
- Horace Mann: educational reformer, politician
- Horace Greeley: newspaper editor, politician
- Horace Grant: athlete, basketball player
Nicknames
Horry
Fun facts
- The name gained long-term popularity in the Western world through the famed Roman lyric poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known in English as Horace.
- Horace was a mainstay in the top 100 U.S. boys' names throughout the late 19th century before gradually declining in popularity.