Horace is an ancient Roman male given name of Latin origin, meaning "timekeeper" or "hour." It was borne by the famous Roman lyric poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65-27 BC), often simply known as Horace in English. The name Horace has been used throughout history and has a rich literary association due to its most notable bearer. In English-speaking countries, it is often associated with Horace Walpole, an 18th-century writer, art historian, and politician who was the son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first prime minister. However, it remains relatively uncommon as a given name today.
Here are the annual statistics for the name Horace:
- Between 1914 and 1938, there was a steady fluctuation of births ranging from 5 to 11 annually.
- The years with the highest number of Horace births were 1915, 1925, and 1927, each with 11 births.
- After a dip in the late 30s, there was an increase in Horace births in 1948 and 1949, with 7 and 13 respectively.
- The frequency of Horace births then declined, ranging from 5 to 8 annually until 1962.