Grace is a name of English origin, meaning "elegance" or "charm." It comes from the Middle English word "gracious," which itself derives from the Old French word "gracieus." In turn, this French word is borrowed from the Latin adjective "gratias," meaning "thankful."
The name Grace first appeared in England during the 13th century. It was initially used as a nickname or personal name for someone who was considered graceful, attractive, or kind-hearted. Over time, Grace became more widely adopted as an independent given name.
One of the most famous bearers of this name is Grace O'Malley (c. 1530-1603), also known as Gráinne Ní Mháille in Irish, who was a pirate queen from Ireland's west coast. Her legacy has contributed to the popularity of the name Grace in Ireland and beyond.
In literature, Grace has been used as a character name by several authors, including Thomas Hardy ("Tess of the d'Urbervilles") and Emily Brontë ("Wuthering Heights"). These works may have also influenced its usage as a given name.
The popularity of the name Grace has fluctuated over the centuries. In the United States, it was particularly popular during the late 19th to early 20th centuries but declined in usage thereafter. However, since the 1970s, there has been renewed interest in the name, with its popularity rising steadily until it reached its peak position of number 458 in 2016.
Some notable individuals named Grace include American actresses Grace Kelly and Grace Jones, Australian swimmer Grace Elizabeth "Gracie" Elvin, and Canadian singer-songwriter Grace VanderWaal. These figures may contribute to the continued familiarity and appeal of this timeless name.
"The name Gracie saw a significant increase in popularity from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with a steady rise in births per year until reaching a peak of 573 in 1925. However, after this peak, there was a gradual decline, falling to just 89 births in 1972. The name experienced another increase in popularity from the late 1980s, peaking again at 894 births in 1999. Since then, it has maintained a relatively high level of popularity, with over 1000 births per year between 2000 and 2007, before declining again to around 1500 births per year by 2018. As of 2023, the total number of births for the name Gracie is 81433."