Grace

Grace derives from the Latin word gratia, meaning favor, goodwill, or thankfulness, which itself traces back to gratus, meaning pleasing or beloved. The name entered English use largely through Christian theological vocabulary, where grace denoted the freely given love and mercy of God, making it a popular Puritan virtue name in the seventeenth century. Grace Kelly, the American actress who became Princess of Monaco, brought the name considerable modern prominence. Related forms include Grazia in Italian, Graca in Portuguese, and the Latinate variant Gratia.