Holding steady.
Popularity of Hortence since 1909
Babies named Hortence per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hortence's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 7 |
| 1910s | 42 |
| 1920s | 92 |
| 1930s | 54 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Hortence is a French feminine name derived from the Latin 'hortus', meaning garden. It first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1909, which remains its peak year, though the name never reached a high rank. Its trajectory has been stable, with no significant revival in recent decades. The name is virtually absent from contemporary usage, with no recorded top states or notable variants. Despite its rarity, Hortence carries a distinct vintage charm for those seeking a genuinely uncommon botanical name with French roots.
Hortence is the French feminine form of the Roman family name Hortensius, derived from Latin 'hortus' meaning garden. It was borne by members of the Roman gens Hortensia, most notably the orator Quintus Hortensius. The name experienced modest use in France and occasionally in English-speaking countries in the early 20th century, though it has since become rare.
“Hortence” around the world
Where Hortence lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Horty, Tence
Variants: Hortense
Sibling names for Hortence
Names that share Hortence's style, for a brother or sister.
