OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Puritan Name Generator
Virtue Names, Bible Names and Long Hortatory Names for Pilgrim Characters
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How the Puritan Name Generator works
This Puritan name generator gives names in the style of 17th-century English Puritans and the New England colonies: virtue names such as Patience Brewster, hortatory names such as Fear-not Winthrop, and plain Old Testament names. Use them for historical fiction, Thanksgiving plays and characters.
How the Puritan name generator builds names
Puritans rejected saints' names and names they felt were pagan, choosing instead names that taught a lesson. The simplest were virtue names like Patience, Prudence, Silence and Mercy, mostly for girls. Others were whole phrases, called hortatory names, such as Fear-not, Sorry-for-sin and Fight-the-good-fight, recorded in Sussex parishes in the 1580s and 1590s. Many families simply used obscure Old Testament names, which is why Hezekiah, Zerubbabel and Mehitable appear in colonial records.
Are the long phrase names real?
Yes. Praise-God Barebone was a real member of Cromwell's parliament, and his brother was reputedly named If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned. Most phrase names were rare even among Puritans, so use them for a character who stands out, and use virtue and Bible names for everyone else.
More historical names
For the century before, try the Tudor name generator. For colonial and frontier characters in later centuries, try the cowboy name generator.
FAQ
What are Puritan virtue names?
Virtue names are names taken from qualities the Puritans valued, such as Patience, Prudence, Charity, Silence and Temperance. They were mostly given to girls, and several, like Grace, Faith and Hope, are still popular today.
What names did the Mayflower pilgrims have?
Mayflower passengers included Love Brewster, Wrestling Brewster, Resolved White, Peregrine White, Humility Cooper, Desire Minter and Remember Allerton, alongside many ordinary names such as John, William, Mary and Elizabeth.
Can I use a Puritan name for a baby?
Many virtue names suit a modern baby well, especially Grace, Hope, Mercy, Constance and Prudence. The long hortatory names are best kept for fiction, because a child would have to spell Fight-the-good-fight on every form.
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