Temperance Brennan: Her first name literally means moderation and self-restraint in word or action; self-control.

What I find interesting about Brennan's moniker is that (according to TV canon) it was not originally her given name. Her real name was Joy.

When her family was forced to go underground/into hiding when Brennan was three-years-old they all assumed new identities. I thought (as I'm sure the writers did) that it was very telling that Brennan went from being Joy to being Temperance.