Bravery

Meaning & origin

Bravery entered the U.S. naming landscape in 2011, a late addition to the modern word name trend. It ranked 6,446th as of 2025, with an incidence of 1 in every 131,390 births, far from common but steadily rising in usage since its debut. The name reached its peak popularity in 2019, likely reflecting a cultural environment that elevated courage as a key virtue. Its trajectory has been rising since 2011, particularly in California, which recorded the most Bravery births among all states. As a direct adoption of the English noun, Bravery is a prime example of how contemporary parents mine the dictionary for aspirational names, sidestepping tradition in favor of a clear, meaningful statement. While still rare, the name fits a broader pattern of virtue names like Valour, Justice, and Sincere, appealing to parents seeking a name that is both distinctive and semantically grounded. Its rarity and straightforward meaning ensure it will remain a choice that stands out, with an upward trend suggesting it may become more familiar over time.

Bravery is a modern English word name derived directly from the common noun bravery, meaning courage or valor. It entered use as a given name in the United States in the early 21st century, first recorded in 2011. The name follows a broader trend of using virtue words and abstract nouns as names, often chosen to express parental hopes or values.