Temperance

Temperance is an English virtue name expressing moderation and self-restraint. It belongs to the same broad naming tradition as Hope and Patience, where an ordinary word becomes a wish or ideal attached to a child. Its use among Puritan families gives it a history beyond modern word names, although the virtue itself is much older than that naming fashion.

The word can also bring to mind the temperance movement and its association with avoiding alcohol. In popular culture, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan in the television series Bones gives the name a different, contemporary reference. Together, these associations make Temperance a name with a particularly clear message. Its three-syllable shape is substantial, and its full form communicates its meaning more directly than an improvised nickname would.