Honour is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the word 'honor', which has its roots in the Latin word 'honos', meaning 'esteem' or 'respect'. The name Honour is often associated with the qualities of integrity, dignity, and nobility.
The use of Honour as a given name can be traced back to medieval times in England. During this period, it was used as a female name, although today it is more commonly seen as a male name. In fact, Honour is one of the few names that has been traditionally associated with both men and women throughout history.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Honour was Lady Honour Lisle, who lived during the 15th century in England. She was the wife of John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Lady Honour was known for her intelligence, beauty, and diplomatic skills, which earned her a place at the court of King Edward IV.
In literature, Honour has been used as a character name in various works. In Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice", one of the characters is named Salanio, who has the nickname 'Honor'. Additionally, there was a novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell titled "Cousin Philomena", which features a character named Honour.
Today, Honour remains a rare but unique given name choice. It is often used as an alternative to more traditional names like Honor or Honey. Despite its rarity, the name Honour carries a strong and meaningful presence that sets it apart from other names. Its historic roots and association with dignity and respect make it a timeless and powerful choice for parents looking for something distinctive yet meaningful for their child.
The name Honour has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past three decades in the United States. According to available data, there were only five births with the name Honour in both 1988 and 1996. However, starting from 1997, the number of births with this name began to rise steadily.
In 1997 and 1998, there were nine births each year, indicating a significant jump from previous years. This trend continued, with seven births in 1999 and another peak of nine births in 2001. After a slight dip to seven births in 2003, the number of births with the name Honour started to rise again, reaching double digits with fourteen births in 2009.
The years 2010 to 2014 saw fluctuations between eight and thirteen births each year. However, from 2015 onwards, there was a notable increase in popularity for the name Honour. There were twenty-two births in 2016, indicating a significant rise in its use compared to previous years.
Despite a slight dip to eleven births in 2017 and eight in 2018, the popularity of the name Honour remained consistent with thirteen births each year in 2019 and 2020. The most recent data shows that there were eighteen births in 2021 and fifteen in 2023.
In total, there have been 243 births with the name Honour in the United States between 1988 and 2023. This upward trend in popularity suggests that more parents are choosing this unique and distinctive name for their children.