Fortune

Meaning & origin

Fortune is a rare unisex virtue name drawn from the Latin 'fortuna', symbolizing luck and prosperity. In the United States, it was first recorded as a given name in 1916, but its use has remained sparse. As of 2025, Fortune ranks 9,457th in popularity, with an estimated 1 in 160,727 newborns receiving the name. Its peak year was 2020, though its trajectory has been falling since 2021. The name has not been strongly associated with any particular region or state. As a modern revival of virtue naming, Fortune fits alongside other abstract word names like Grace and Hope, though it remains distinctly uncommon. Its unisex nature allows it flexibility, and its direct meaning of 'good fortune' makes it an optimistic choice for parents seeking a distinctive name with a positive message.

Fortune derives from the Old French 'fortune', from Latin 'fortuna' meaning 'luck, chance, fate'. The name entered English as a given name in the 17th century, part of the Puritan virtue-naming tradition but less common than Grace or Faith. Its use as a first name was sporadic in the Anglosphere until the 20th century, when it occasionally appeared for both sexes. In France, 'Fortune' has been used more regularly, notably Saint Fortunatus.