Find out how popular the first name Prue has been for the last 10 years (from 2014 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Prue by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Prue is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 13 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Prue.

The history of the first name Prue

The name Prue is derived from the Old French word "prud", meaning "prudent" or "wise". Its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "prudens", which has the same meaning. The name first gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly in England and France.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Prue can be found in the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in the late 14th century. In the tale, Chaucer refers to a character named "Prudence", which is the English form of the name Prue.

In the 16th century, the name Prue appeared in various historical records and literary works. One notable example is Prue Osborn, an English Puritan who was born in 1599. She was one of the early settlers of Massachusetts and played a significant role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Another historical figure associated with the name Prue is Prudence Crandall, an American educator and abolitionist who lived from 1803 to 1890. She was renowned for her efforts in establishing one of the first integrated schools in the United States, defying the racial segregation laws of the time.

In the literary world, Prue is the name of a character in Charles Dickens' novel "The Old Curiosity Shop", published in 1841. Prue is portrayed as a kind-hearted and devoted servant who cares for the novel's protagonist, Little Nell.

In the realm of religion, Prudence was revered as one of the four Cardinal Virtues in Catholic tradition, along with Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. This association further reinforced the name's connotation of wisdom and virtue.

Other notable individuals with the name Prue include Prue Leith, a British writer and restaurateur born in 1940, and Prue Acton, an Australian cookery writer and food historian born in 1943.

While the name Prue has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades, it remains a name with a rich historical heritage, evoking notions of wisdom, prudence, and virtue throughout its centuries-long journey.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Prue was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Prue, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!