Hope
/ˈhoʊp/
Hope derives from the Old English hopian, meaning “expectation” or “wish.” Unlike most English given names, Hope is a pure vocabulary word used directly as a name, a practice that became widespread during the Puritan era of the 17th century.
The Puritans favored “virtue names” - Faith, Grace, Mercy, Patience - as expressions of religious devotion.
Hope was one of the 3 theological virtues identified by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” This biblical foundation gave the name enduring appeal in Christian communities across the
What the name Hope means
English-speaking world.
The name peaked in the United States at No. 143 in 1999 and in 2024 ranked No. 266 with 2,265 births.
The gradual decline from its late-1990s peak has been steady but slow, suggesting the name retains a loyal base of parents who value its directness and meaning.
Comedian Bob Hope (born Leslie Townes Hope, 1903-2003) made the surname form famous, though this association has faded with time.
More recently, the character Hope Mikaelson in the television series The Originals and Legacies brought the name to a younger audience.
Hope’s single-syllable structure places it in an exclusive category of 1-syllable girls’ names that have maintained chart presence for over a century: Grace, Faith, Joy, and Rose are its closest peers.
The name has minimal international variation, being used primarily in English-speaking countries.
Its meaning translates differently across languages - Esperanza in Spanish, Nadia in Slavic languages - but the English word-name form remains distinctive.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Hope
Hope - similar names
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