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Constance Name Meaning, Origins & History

Constance

Pronunciation: KAHN-stuhns

Meaning Steadfast Origin Latin Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#1,501
TREND
144
Peak Years
1950, 1951, 1949
Lowest Years
1881, 1880, 1883
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Constance in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Constance

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Constance appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 9 years. Its last run lasted 8 consecutive years, from 1946 through 1953.
  • More than 140 thousand babies named Constance: U.S. records list 140,393 babies given the name Constance from 1880 through 2025. Even 419 boys received the name Constance - about 1 boy for every 334 girls.

What Does the Name Constance Mean?

Constance is an English feminine name meaning 'steadfastness' or 'constancy.' It comes from Latin constantia, a noun formed from constans ('standing firm, constant'), the present participle of constare ('to stand together, stand firm'). That verb combines com- ('together') with stare ('to stand'). English acquired the name through Old French Constance. The literal sense is the quality of remaining firm or unchanging; later Christian and literary uses often emphasized faithfulness and endurance, but those are extensions of the same meaning rather than a separate origin.

Constance Name History & Origins

The Latin name Constantia was used in the Roman imperial family. A half-sister of Constantine the Great was named Constantia, and the name appears elsewhere among women of the Constantinian dynasty. The masculine names Constantius, Constans, and Constantinus come from the same root, so Constance is related to Constantine without being a simple feminine form of it.

Through Old French the name became Constance, the form that entered English after the Norman Conquest. It was borne by medieval noblewomen such as Constance of Brittany in the 12th century and Constance of Castile in the 14th century. It also appeared in France, Italy, Spain, and German-speaking lands as Constance, Costanza, Constanza, and Konstanze. The similar Latin name Constantina belonged to a fourth-century daughter of Constantine the Great who was venerated as a saint; the Roman church of Santa Costanza is associated with her.

Geoffrey Chaucer used Constance in The Man of Law's Tale in the late 14th century. His Constance is a Christian princess who is exiled and survives shipwreck, and the tale presents her as an example of patience. This is a famous literary use, not the name's earliest record. William Shakespeare later used Constance in King John in the 1590s as the mother of Arthur, and Alexandre Dumas named Constance Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers in 1844.

How Popular is the Name Constance?

Constance recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1950. Constance ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1932 through 1932, then returned in 1946 and remained through 1953.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Constance

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Past Favorite Girl Names

Past Favorite Girl Names: Once-Popular Names

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How the Name Constance Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Constance's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Constance's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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