Providence
An English virtue name derived from the Latin word "providere" meaning "foresight, forethought, or timely care".
Name Census estimates that about 278 living Americans carry the first name Providence. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Providence today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Providence births was 1924 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Providence. 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
278
~ 1 in 1,232,929 Americans
Peak year
1924
29 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,863
Tracked since 1905
Popularity
Providence: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Providence from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 156 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Providence 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 Providence during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Providences live
Origin
Meaning and history of Providence
The name Providence has its origins in late Middle English, derived from the Latin word "providentia" meaning foresight or prudent care. The name rose to prominence during the 16th century, coinciding with the spread of Protestant Christianity and its emphasis on divine providence or God's sovereignty over human affairs.
Providence is closely linked to the concept of God's guiding hand and divine intervention in the affairs of humanity. It reflects a belief in a higher power that shapes events and bestows blessings or guidance. The name may have been chosen to express gratitude for perceived divine favor or as a reminder to trust in God's plan.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Providence dates back to 1636 when Roger Williams, a prominent Puritan minister, founded the city of Providence in present-day Rhode Island. He named the settlement as a testament to his belief in God's merciful providence after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Providence. One of the earliest known was Providence Bunner (1726-1801), an American Quaker preacher and abolitionist from Pennsylvania. Another notable figure was Providence Fenner (1779-1859), the 19th governor of Rhode Island, serving from 1807 to 1811.
In the literary realm, Providence Langford (1865-1938) was a Canadian author and journalist known for her novels and short stories depicting life in rural Ontario. Providence Orozco (1835-1918) was a Mexican nun and educator who founded several schools and advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples.
A more contemporary example is Providence Holloway (1952-), an American actress and singer who has appeared in numerous television shows and films, including "Dreamgirls" and "The Wiz."
While the name Providence has its roots in Christian theology, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now used across various cultures and belief systems. The name carries connotations of guidance, protection, and a belief in a greater force shaping one's path in life.
People
Providence + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Providence as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Providence: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Providence?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 278 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Providence 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 1,232,929 US residents.
Is Providence a common name?
We classify Providence as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 716 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Providence most popular?
The single biggest year for Providence was 1924, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Providence is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Providence a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Providence 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.