Worthy

Meaning & origin

Worthy is a rare virtue name that has seen consistent but minimal use since the 1880s, when it first appeared in U.S. records at rank 7,194 in 1880. Its peak year remains 1880, with no significant revival in later decades. In the most recent data (2025), the name's frequency is approximately 1 in 155,280 births, reflecting its enduring rarity. While it has been recorded as unisex, its trajectory has remained stable without major fluctuations. The name carries the simple yet weighty meaning of 'deserving respect,' aligning with the Puritan virtue-naming tradition. Top states where it has been used include scattered instances, but it has never concentrated regionally. Its similarity to surname-turned-given-names like Worth and Merritt places it within a category of direct virtue names that appeal to parents seeking understated, meaningful choices.

Derived from the Old English adjective 'weorþig', meaning 'worthy, honorable, deserving'. It was originally a surname, often denoting a person who lived near a homestead or farm (from 'worth' meaning 'enclosure'). As a given name, it emerged in the 19th century among Puritan and virtue-naming traditions, though it remained rare.