Horatio, a name of Latin origin, was popularized by William Shakespeare's tragic play "Hamlet". In the story, Horatio is Hamlet's loyal friend and confidant, known for his courage, wisdom, and steadfastness. The name itself means "keeping time" or "in time", possibly referring to its original meaning as an attendant or guardian. Throughout history, there have been notable figures bearing this name, such as the English poet Horatio Nelson, who was a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy, and Italian composer Horatio Parker, known for his orchestral works and choral compositions. Today, Horatio is still used as a given name, though it has become less common since its peak of popularity during the Victorian era.
The name Horatio experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a total of 1429 births recorded between 1880 and 2022. The name peaked in popularity during World War I, with a high of 20 births in 1914 and 19 births in 1916. However, it fell out of favor in the mid-20th century, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1953 to 1973. The name saw a resurgence in popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, reaching a recent high of 40 births in 2007.