Boniface

Meaning & origin

Boniface is a name of Latin origin meaning 'good fate' or 'good deed,' derived from the elements 'bonum' (good) and 'fatum' (fate) or 'facere' (to do). It has a long historical pedigree, associated with several saints and notable figures, including the eighth-century English missionary Saint Boniface, the Apostle of Germany. Despite this distinguished history, Boniface has never been common in the United States. Its use peaked in 1914, the earliest year for which data is available, when it ranked 8,243. After a long period of near-invisibility, the name has been rising gradually since 2021, part of a broader revival of ornate, historic names that characterized the 1910s. Today, it remains exceptionally rare, with an estimated 1 in 189,786 boys receiving the name in 2025.

Boniface derives from the Latin name Bonifatius, composed of 'bonum' (good) and 'fatum' (fate) or 'facere' (to do). It was borne by several saints, most notably the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon missionary Saint Boniface, known as the Apostle of Germany. The name was introduced to England by the Normans and saw some use in medieval times, but it became rare by the modern era. Its revival in recent years may be attributed to a taste for ornate, classic names.