Fun Facts About the Name Providence
- 724 babies named Providence: U.S. records list 724 babies given the name Providence from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Providence Mean?
Providence is an English word name meaning 'foresight' or 'divine guidance.' It comes from Latin providentia, 'foresight, precaution, provision,' a noun formed from providere, 'to foresee, provide.' That verb joins pro-, 'ahead,' and videre, 'to see.' The literal sense is the ability to look ahead or make provision; the religious sense - God's foreknowing care and governance of the world - is a theological application of that same idea rather than a separate etymology.
Providence Name History & Origins
The word behind the name came into English from Latin providentia by way of Old French. In Middle English, providence covered foresight, prudent preparation, and provision for the future. Christian teaching gave the term a larger meaning: the care and direction by which God governs creation. That theological sense is the one behind the phrase divine Providence and behind the name of Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1636 and understood by Roger Williams as a settlement established under God's merciful providence.
As a personal name, Providence is usually feminine and belongs to the English custom of using abstract nouns as names - the same broad tradition that produced Prudence, Patience, and Faith. Such names were especially common among Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries. Providence is a word name rather than a saint's name or a biblical personal name; its meaning comes directly from the theological term. The given name and the Rhode Island place name therefore share a vocabulary but are separate uses of the word.
How Popular is the Name Providence?
Providence has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1924. Its best rank was #1,499 in 1910.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,684 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,863 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #13,134 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,980 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #14,838 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #16,960 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,301 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #10,384 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #15,491 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,297 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #10,002 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #9,413 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #8,470 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2012 | #14,641 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #11,937 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #10,299 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #11,287 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #13,511 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #15,104 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #11,230 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #12,739 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #15,290 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #14,950 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #17,284 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #11,526 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #6,372 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #7,293 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #7,079 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #5,937 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #4,814 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #6,031 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #5,153 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #4,153 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #4,669 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #5,535 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #4,431 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #5,211 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #2,773 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #3,497 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,447 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #4,150 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #2,699 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #2,542 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1935 | #2,700 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,698 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #2,514 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #3,003 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #2,396 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #2,092 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1929 | #3,626 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #2,480 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #2,522 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #2,685 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #2,593 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #1,600 | 29 | 0.0023% |
| 1923 | #2,348 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #2,265 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1921 | #2,104 | 19 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #2,861 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #2,774 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,271 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1917 | #1,545 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1916 | #1,523 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1915 | #1,944 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1914 | #2,399 | 10 | 0.0013% |
| 1913 | #2,502 | 8 | 0.0013% |
| 1912 | #3,341 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1911 | #2,148 | 7 | 0.0017% |
| 1910 | #1,499 | 11 | 0.0028% |
| 1909 | #2,172 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1907 | #2,324 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| 1905 | #2,173 | 5 | 0.0017% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Providence Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Providence's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Providence's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.