Charity

Meaning of Charity

Charity (pronounced CHAIR-i-tee) springs from the Latin “caritas,” that rich old word for selfless, generous love woven straight into the pages of the New Testament, and she’s carried that glow ever since. First adopted by the Puritans alongside sisters Faith and Hope, Charity feels like the friend who’s always ready with an extra blanket and a plate of brownies—sweet, practical, and quietly heroic. While her popularity spiked around the turn of the 20th century and has since settled into the comfortable mid-hundreds, this gives modern parents the gift of a name that’s familiar yet far from overused. Literary buffs hear echoes of Charity Hope Valentine dancing across Broadway in “Sweet Charity,” while philanthropists appreciate the built-in mission statement: kindness in action. In short, choosing Charity hands a little one a timeless virtue, a dash of theatrical sparkle, and a built-in reminder that love is best served generously.