Caprice
Derived from the French word for a whim or fancy, a feminine given name suggesting capriciousness or impulsiveness.
Name Census estimates that about 3,249 living Americans carry the first name Caprice. It is a predominantly female name (94.9% of registrations). The average person named Caprice today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Caprice births was 1966 (116 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Caprice. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
3.2K
~ 1 in 105,495 Americans
Peak year
1966
116 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2022 SSA rank
#9,740
Tracked since 1949
Gender
Gender distribution for Caprice
Caprice leans heavily female at 94.9% of total registrations, but 180 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Caprice as a male name
- Ranked #12,665 in 2022
- 5 male births in 2022
- Peak: 1998 (12 births)
Caprice as a female name
- Ranked #9,740 in 2023
- 10 female births in 2023
- Peak: 1966 (116 births)
Popularity
Caprice: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Caprice from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 739 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caprice by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Caprice during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Caprices live
The SSA's state-level files cover 17 states and territories. California, Illinois, New York recorded the most babies named Caprice, while Wisconsin, Tennessee, Indiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 70 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Caprice
The name Caprice originates from the French language and first appeared during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Latin word "capra," meaning goat, and the diminutive suffix "-ice," which denotes smallness or endearment. As such, the name Caprice initially referred to a small or playful goat, a fitting name for a lively and mischievous child.
In its early usage, the name Caprice was often associated with the concept of a sudden whim or fancy, reflecting the unpredictable nature of a goat's movements. This connotation of capriciousness and whimsy became deeply ingrained in the name's meaning over time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caprice can be found in the 14th century French literary work "Le Roman de la Rose," written by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. In this allegorical poem, Caprice is personified as a character representing the fickle nature of love and desire.
During the Renaissance period, the name Caprice gained popularity among the French nobility. One notable figure was Caprice de Monicart (1550-1619), a French courtier and poet who served under King Henry IV. Her vibrant personality and poetic talents reflected the playful spirit associated with her name.
In the 17th century, Caprice de Bauterne (1622-1701) was a renowned French actress and dancer who graced the stages of the Comédie-Française. Her performances were celebrated for their vivacity and spontaneity, embodying the very essence of the name Caprice.
Moving into the 19th century, Caprice Delamour (1810-1889) was a French painter known for her captivating portraits and scenes of Parisian life. Her artistic style was characterized by a sense of whimsy and a keen eye for capturing fleeting moments of beauty.
One of the most famous individuals to bear the name Caprice was the American actress Caprice Bourret (born 1971). She rose to prominence in the 1990s as a model and television personality, known for her lively and effervescent presence both on and off the screen.
Throughout history, the name Caprice has been associated with a sense of playfulness, spontaneity, and a zest for life. Its origins in the French language and its connections to the capricious nature of goats have infused the name with a unique charm and allure that continues to captivate generations.
People
Caprice + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Caprice as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Caprice: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Caprice?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3,249 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Caprice going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 105,495 US residents.
Is Caprice a common name?
We classify Caprice as "Rare". It ranks above 95.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 3,549 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Caprice most popular?
The single biggest year for Caprice was 1966, when 116 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Caprice is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Caprice a female name?
Yes, 94.9% of people registered as Caprice in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.