Innocence
Freedom from guilt or sin; purity of mind.
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the first name Innocence. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Innocence today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Innocence births was 2007 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Innocence. 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
115
~ 1 in 2,980,473 Americans
Peak year
2007
15 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,743
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Innocence: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Innocence from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 52 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Innocence 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 Innocence during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Innocence
The name Innocence originates from the Latin word "innocentia," which means "blamelessness" or "purity." It first emerged during the Roman era, when virtue and morality were highly valued in society. The name carried connotations of sincerity, integrity, and a lack of guile or corruption.
In the early days of Christianity, the concept of innocence took on a profound spiritual meaning. The Bible often refers to the innocence of children and the need for believers to possess a childlike purity of heart. As a result, Innocence became a popular name among devout Christian families, symbolizing the purity and simplicity they aspired to embody.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Innocence can be found in the writings of the 4th-century Christian philosopher, Saint Augustine of Hippo. In his seminal work, "The City of God," he discusses the concept of innocence and its relationship to virtue and morality.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Innocence gained popularity across Europe, particularly in regions with strong Catholic traditions. It was often bestowed upon children as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a pure and virtuous life.
Historically, several notable figures have borne the name Innocence. One of the most famous was Innocence VIII, who reigned as Pope from 1484 to 1492. His pontificate was marked by efforts to reform the Church and address corruption within the clergy.
Another prominent individual with this name was Innocence Masina (1924-1994), an Italian actress and film star renowned for her performances in Federico Fellini's iconic movies, such as "La Strada" and "Nights of Cabiria." Her name and on-screen portrayals embodied a sense of innocence and vulnerability that captivated audiences worldwide.
In literature, the name Innocence has been used to symbolize purity and naivety. One notable example is the character of Innocence in John Bunyan's allegory "The Pilgrim's Progress," published in 1678. Innocence represents the virtue of simplicity and the inability to comprehend the complexities of the world.
Another literary figure named Innocence is the protagonist of the novel "Innocence" by Penelope Fitzgerald, published in 1986. The book explores the themes of loss, redemption, and the preservation of innocence in the face of life's harsh realities.
Historically, the name Innocence has been borne by numerous individuals, from religious figures to artists and literary characters. Its enduring popularity stems from its symbolic representation of purity, virtue, and the simplicity of the human spirit.
People
Innocence + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Innocence as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Innocence: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Innocence?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 115 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Innocence 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 2,980,473 US residents.
Is Innocence a common name?
We classify Innocence as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 116 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Innocence most popular?
The single biggest year for Innocence was 2007, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Innocence is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Innocence in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Innocence a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Innocence 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.
Is Innocence still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Innocence in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Innocence can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Innocence?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.