UK boy's name
Aaron
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "high mountain" or "exalted".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aaron is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aaron popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #154, with 333 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 2,512 births.
This profile covers 36,366 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 13% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 47,354 living people in the UK are called Aaron. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aaron ranked #154 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 333 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 2,512 boys were registered as Aaron.
- • Aaron ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #114 in 2024.
- • About 47,354 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aaron as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#154
2024
Births in 2024
333
Latest year
Peak year
1998
2,512 births
Estimated living
47,354
2026
Meaning
What does Aaron mean?
The name Aaron has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the word "Harun" or "Aharon". It is believed to have been first used in ancient Israelite culture, dating back to around the 13th century BCE. The meaning of Aaron is often interpreted as "high mountain" or "exalted".
One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Aaron is found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is the name of the older brother of Moses. Aaron is portrayed as the first High Priest of the Israelites and a central figure in the Exodus narrative. This association with an important biblical figure likely contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Jewish and Christian communities.
The name Aaron also appears in various other ancient texts, including the Quran, where it is mentioned as the name of a prophet and the brother of Moses. This further reinforced its significance in the Islamic tradition.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Aaron dates back to the 2nd century BCE, found in the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish religious text. Throughout history, the name has been borne by several notable individuals, including:
1. Aaron of Alexandria (c. 570 CE - c. 630 CE), a Christian philosopher and theologian who played a significant role in the development of early Christian thought. 2. Aaron ben Samuel (c. 1300 CE - c. 1370 CE), a Jewish astronomer and mathematician from Spain, known for his contributions to the field of astronomy. 3. Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836), an American politician and lawyer who served as the third Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson. 4. Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990), an American composer and conductor, known for his distinctive style and contributions to American classical music. 5. Aaron Spelling (1923 - 2006), an American film and television producer, best known for creating popular TV series like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Melrose Place".
The name Aaron has maintained its popularity across various cultures and time periods, thanks to its strong historical and religious significance. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and traditions from which it originated.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aaron over time
The chart below shows babies named Aaron registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aaron, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 333 births in 2024, compared with 2,512 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aaron by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aaron was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #135 | 2,052 | 5 |
| 2010s | #85 | 8,238 | 10 |
| 2000s | #44 | 16,405 | 10 |
| 1990s | #33 | 9,671 | 4 |
Geography
Where Aaron is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aaron. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Aaron ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #114 in 2024.
Across the UK
Aaron in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#114 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 8,534 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#187 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 2,896 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Aaron
-
Aaron Thomason
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1997)
1997-
-
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
association football player
DR Congo footballer
1997-
-
Aaron Wainwright
rugby union player
Welsh rugby union player
1997-
-
Aaron Tshibola
association football player
association football player (born 1995)
1995-
-
Aaron Williams
association football player
British footballer (born 1993)
1993-
-
Aaron Tumwa
association football player
Antigua and Barbuda footballer (born 1993)
1993-
-
Aaron Williamson
racing driver; racing automobile driver
British racing driver
1992-
-
Aaron Wildig
association football player
English association football player
1992-
Related
Names similar to Aaron
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
- Aiden 15,654
FAQ
Aaron: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aaron in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #154 for boys in England and Wales, with 333 births registered.
When was Aaron most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 2,512 babies registered as Aaron in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aaron?
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "high mountain" or "exalted".
How many people are called Aaron in the UK?
A total of 36,366 babies have been registered as Aaron across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8,534 more in Scotland and 2,896 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Aaron most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Aaron ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #114 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.