Humm Providence… what do you think? And boy or girl?
Definitely a girl’s name. I think it would make a nice middle name but a less than nice first name.
I think I prefer it on a girl. I’m not honestly sure what I think of it. It’s interesting, but I don’t know if I love it. It would be a place name as well as a word/virtue(?) name.
I agree, girl, and better in the middle. Cool, but a lot.
I also think better in the middle but only because I can’t think of any nicknames if it were given in the first name place.
I see it as a middle for a girl too. Unfortunately, the name doesnt lend itself to nicknames that easily.
Thanks 
I wouldn’t use it for me. But I might use it in a story. It has really grown on me since I posted this!
There are SOOO MANY hospitals called Providence. I wouldn’t use it, personally.
I really like it!!
I don’t see why it should be a girls name, though, the only thing reminiscent of a girls name is the -ence part at the end, mostly because of Constance. Prov- as a beginning makes it read very male to me. If you want a unique word name ending in -ence, try Independence. It has a more feminine sound, and could be nicknames Indi, India or even Ida.
Others are Essence, Pleasance, Silence and Clemence.
Serendipity has sort of the same meaning (at a stretch) and sounds a lot more feminine.
I try to uphold the principle that all word names are/should be unisex by default, but Providence tips over in the boys catecory for me immediately. (I avoid using the rule on well-established names like Violet and
Nicknames could be Poe for a boy and Vida for a girl.
For more -ence names for boys, Reverence, Confidence, Consequence, Perseverence, Defiance, Endurance, Crescens and Remembrance.
One word…No.
I love it–but…my friend was once friends with this guy who loved her and she didn’t feel the same about him. He had a dream that they got married and had a daughter named Providence. I’m still friends with both of them, so even if it floated to the top of my list, I couldn’t ever use it, ever, even in the mn slot.
Wouldn’t sisters named [name]Temperance[/name] and Providence be pretty cool? Forget nicknames. Those names just rock on their own.
I see why you like it, but I’d be cautious using this especially as a first name, I think you might get away with it more as a middle name and it’s definitely more a girl name x
It’d be cool if you called him [name]Vince[/name] for short…Or Pro…but Providence is a serious name…and sounds a tad girly used for a boy…
but for a girl there aren’t many nick names you can use…
I love it. It’s on our short list for a girl’s first name.
The nickname could be almost anything —*it could be initial based (PJ for instance.) The English use [name]Poppy[/name] as a nickname for [name]Penelope[/name], which is kid of out of nowhere I think (I can find logic in it, but it’s a stretch.) My brother & I both had nicknames unrelated to our first names, but more to our personalities.
Good luck!
Providence nick names to try: [name]Vida[/name], Provi, [name]Vi[/name], [name]Vicky[/name] ??? [name]Vic[/name]?
the post made me laugh… though probably not why you’d think. I was wondering if the word Provenance would make great word name last night. They are so close it’s almost like we were having the same thought.
I decided that I don’t like place names and Providence, Rhode Island is too real of a place for me. But otherwise I think it could make a great mn.
It’s been used before as a girl’s name, so yes it is usable, but it’s a bit hefty to wear given the meaning if you were giving it to a real person as opposed to a character.
It also makes me think of Rhode Island.
It works for both, but I lean toward boy.
I think it’s pretty bad, honestly. But if I had to pick a gender I’d say female.
As a [name]New[/name] Englander, Providence is [name]WAY[/name] too much of a place name for me. It’s also the name of a college in Providence, RI. I don’t think it works as a name, but people have named their children [name]Bronx[/name] and [name]Brooklyn[/name]. I think if you are into word/place names, don’t see yourself or your child ever moving to Providence or going to Providence College, then it could work.