Horace is a name of Latin origin and means "timekeeper" or "hour". It was popular among the ancient Romans, who often used it as a family name, or nomen. The most famous Horace in history is Quintus Horatius Flaccus, a Roman poet from the first century BC, known simply as Horace.
The name Horace has been used throughout history by notable individuals. In addition to the poet Horace, there was also a Roman emperor named Horace, who ruled briefly in AD 238 during the Crisis of the Third Century. The name has also been used by several saints and martyrs in Christian history.
In more recent times, Horace has been used as a given name, but it is not very common. It is sometimes used as a middle name or as part of compound names like Horatio, which means "hourly" in Latin.
Overall, the name Horace is an unusual choice for a baby name today, but it does have historical significance and a unique meaning related to timekeeping.
The name Horace has seen a varied journey in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States. In the late 19th century, its usage was quite common, with over 150 births each year between 1880 and 1897. The peak of this period occurred in 1895 with 211 births.
However, the early 20th century saw a significant decline in the popularity of the name Horace. Between 1900 and 1932, there was an average of about 600 births per year, a stark contrast to the 1895 peak. The lowest point during this period was reached in 1934 with only 788 births.
The mid-20th century saw another decline in the usage of the name Horace. Between 1950 and 1969, there were fewer than 300 births per year on average. This trend continued into the late 20th century, with fewer than 200 births per year between 1970 and 1989.
The recent decades have seen a further decrease in the popularity of the name Horace. Between 1990 and 2023, there were fewer than 50 births per year on average, with the lowest point being just 17 births in both 2021 and 2022.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there have been 54,122 births of the name Horace in the United States. Despite its historical popularity, it seems that Horace is now a relatively rare choice for newborns.