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Name at a glance

Hope

Hope is an English virtue name meaning expectation, trust, or confident longing.

Ranked #352 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #143 in 1999, declining over the past 5 years.

Hope is a Christian virtue name connected with trust in God's promises, endurance, and confidence about what is still unseen.

Browse names
OriginEnglish
GenderGirl
FeelVirtue
PronunciationHOHP

Is Hope biblical?

As a word, not a person

Biblical status Biblical word or concept

Hope is not a biblical personal name; it is one of the classic theological virtues and a major New Testament theme, appearing in the record's triad of faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Is Hope a Christian name?

Yes, as a virtue name

Christian tradition Virtue or theological name

Hope is an English virtue name expressing the theological virtue of confident expectation in God, part of the virtue-name tradition with Faith and Grace.

Plain answer

Hope is not the name of a biblical person, but it is a classic Christian virtue name drawn from a major biblical and theological theme.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Hope

Hope comes from the English word hope. In Christian use, hope is deeper than a wish. It points to confident expectation rooted in God's character, promises, and future.

Christian meaning

Hope as more than optimism

In everyday speech, hope can sound like a wish. In Christian language, hope is stronger. It is tied to promise, endurance, resurrection, and confidence in God.

That gives the name a quiet resilience. Hope feels gentle, but its meaning is not fragile.

Sound

How to pronounce Hope

Phonetic
HOHP
IPA
/hoʊp/

1 syllable · stress: HOHP · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Short forms and nicknames

  • Hopie
  • Hopey

Languages

Hope in other languages

Latin
SpesSpes is the Roman personification of hope, adopted into the medieval Christian virtue tradition.
Spanish
Esperanza
French
Espérance
Italian
Speranza
Portuguese
Esperança

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Hope belongs to the English virtue-name tradition alongside Faith, Grace, Charity, Mercy, and Joy. It entered Christian naming because hope is one of the classic theological virtues and a major theme in the New Testament.

Bearers

Notable people named Hope

  • historical

    Hope LangeAmerican actress, Emmy winner for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, 1933 to 2003

  • modern

    Hope DavisAmerican actress of stage, film, and television, born 1964

  • modern

    Hope SoloAmerican soccer goalkeeper, two-time Olympic gold medalist with the US women's national team, born 1981

  • historical

    Hope MirrleesBritish poet and novelist, author of the fantasy Lud-in-the-Mist, 1887 to 1978

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Hope has been used in English-speaking Christian families for centuries. It is short, familiar, and often chosen for its warmth, simplicity, and spiritual clarity.

Recent US use

Hope in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#352
Peak rank
#143 in 1999
Recent trend
declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at Hope

For a Christian family, Hope can feel tender and strong at once. It works especially well for families drawn to brief names with a clear positive meaning.

Common questions

What does Hope mean?

Hope means expectation, trust, or confident longing.

Is Hope a biblical name?

Hope is not a biblical person name, but hope is a major biblical and Christian theme.

Is Hope a Christian name?

Yes. Hope is a classic Christian virtue name.

Sources

Sources for Hope

  • Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University PressSupports: English etymology; meaning 'expectation' or 'confident longing'.
  • The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, E. G. Withycombe (3rd edition)Supports: English virtue-name tradition; used alongside Faith and Grace.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

FaithThe companion virtue name; Faith and Hope appear together in the great triad of 1 Corinthians 13:13 alongside Love.GraceBoth Grace and Hope are Christian virtue names with direct theological substance; both pair naturally as sibling or middle names.HannahHannah's Hebrew root means 'grace'; her story of prayer answered after long waiting (1 Samuel 1-2) is the biblical image of patient hope rewarded.