Constance

What does Constance mean?

Constance means “constant” or “steadfast.” It is the medieval form of Constantia, a feminine name belonging to the Latin Constans and Constantius family.

The name combines a Roman background with a long history in England and France. Its familiar shortening Connie gives the formal two-syllable name a more casual everyday form, while modern bearers connect Constance with law, civil rights, and film.

From Latin Constantia to medieval Constance

Constantia developed as a feminine counterpart of Constans or Constantius. Constans meant “constant” or “steadfast” in Latin and was also the name of a fourth-century Roman emperor.

The Normans brought Constance to England. A daughter of William the Conqueror bore the name, placing it within the royal world of the eleventh century.

Its modern relatives preserve different versions of the same history: Italian Costanza, Spanish Constanza, German Constanze, and Polish Konstancja. English and French share the spelling Constance while pronouncing it differently.

Constance Baker Motley and the federal courts

Judge Constance Baker Motley gives the name an important place in American legal history. In 1966, she became the first Black woman appointed to a federal judgeship under Article III of the United States Constitution, serving in the Southern District of New York.

Before joining the bench, Motley worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She led litigation involving the integration of universities and personally argued ten cases before the Supreme Court, winning nine.

She later served as her district court's chief judge from 1982 to 1986. Her influence also extended through the judges and law clerks she mentored, making Constance part of a substantial civil rights and judicial legacy.

Constance Wu and contemporary film

Actress Constance Wu supplies a more recent cultural association. She played Rachel Chu in the 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, based on Kevin Kwan's novel.

Rachel travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young and discovers the extent of his family's wealth. The story follows her encounters with his relatives and the social expectations surrounding their relationship.

Wu’s performance gives Constance a prominent connection with Asian American film.

Pronunciation and the name Connie

American English commonly pronounces Constance KAHN-stuns; British English uses a shorter first vowel. In both, stress falls on the first syllable. French uses nasal vowels and a different rhythm.

Connie is the established English familiar form. Constantia preserves the longer Latin name, while Costanza, Constanza, and Constanze provide related forms in other European languages.

Constance in the United States

Constance reached its best American girls' rank, No. 83, in 1949. Its largest annual count came in 1950, with 4,441 babies. It ranked No. 1,501 in 2025, close to its No. 1,540 position in 2015. Its strongest American period therefore belongs to the middle of the twentieth century.

How popular is Constance?

In 2025, Constance ranked #1,501 among girls in the United States, with 142 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for girls in 1880; its largest annual count was 4,441 in 1950. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.