Gender Feminine & Masculine
Other Forms FormsSill (common diminutive)
Meaning & History
Simply from the English word silence, from Middle English from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’. A popular virtue name amongst the Puritans in the 17th century, it was usually given to girls (very occasionally to boys), ultimately taken from the admonition of Saint Paul: "Let the women learn in silence, with all subjection." Translated into Latin it became Tace, which "in its turn developed into Tacey". Silence was still in use in the 19th century, but no examples noted since 1875. It was used by Pamela Belle for a Puritan character in her novels Wintercombe, Herald of Joy and Treason's Gift.