Gender: Feminine
Origin: English/French
Meaning: “prudence.”
The name is ultimately derived from the Latin Prudentia a feminine form of the Late Latin, Prudentius, which is derived from the Latin prudens meaning, “prudent, good judgment.”
The name was borne by a few early Christian martyrs and was in usage in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was revived in the 17th-century by the Puritans.
Other forms of the name include:
- Prudència (Catalan)
- Prudence (English/French)
- Prudenzia (Italian)
- Prudenziana (Italian)
- Prudentia (Late Latin)
- Prudentiana (Late Latin)
- Prudencia (Spanish)
A common English short form is Prue.
Male forms include: Prudenzio (Italian) Prundentius (Late Latin), Prudencio (Spanish).
In the 1960s, the Beatles penned the famous pop song, Dear Prudence.
The designated name-day is May 6 (France).
Sources
Prudenzia is a favourite of mine.