NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ambrose

Ambrose means immortal or divine in Greek origin.

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.

Ambrose is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ambrose popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #945, with 33 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 35 births.

This profile covers 356 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 94% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 354 living people in the UK are called Ambrose. 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

  • Ambrose ranked #945 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 33 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 35 boys were registered as Ambrose.
  • About 354 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ambrose as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#945

2024

Births in 2024

33

Latest year

Peak year

2023

35 births

Estimated living

354

2026

Meaning

What does Ambrose mean?

The given name Ambrose has its origins in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "ambrosios" which means "immortal" or "divine". The name can be traced back to ancient Greece and was likely inspired by the Greek concept of ambrosia, the mythical food or drink of the gods that granted eternal life and youth.

Ambrose was a popular name among early Christians, particularly in the 4th century AD. One of the most famous figures bearing this name was Saint Ambrose, the bishop of Milan from 374 to 397 AD. He was a highly influential figure in the early Christian church and played a significant role in the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Another notable bearer of the name was Ambrose Bierce, an American writer and satirist who lived from 1842 to around 1914. He is best known for his short stories and his satirical dictionary, "The Devil's Dictionary". His disappearance in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution has remained a mystery.

Ambrose Burnside, an American soldier and politician who lived from 1824 to 1881, is also a prominent figure associated with this name. He is remembered for his distinctive facial hair style, known as "sideburns", and for his role as a Union Army general during the American Civil War.

In the world of literature, Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce, an American short story writer and satirist, lived from 1842 to around 1914. His works, including "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "The Devil's Dictionary", are considered classics of American literature.

Another notable bearer of the name was Ambrose Everett Burnside, an American inventor and industrialist who lived from 1824 to 1881. He is credited with introducing the first successful breech-loading rifle to the United States and played a significant role in the development of firearms technology during the 19th century.

While the name Ambrose has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has been widely adopted and used across various regions and cultures throughout history, with many notable individuals bearing this name and contributing to various fields such as religion, literature, military, and industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ambrose over time

The chart below shows babies named Ambrose 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 Ambrose, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 33 births in 2024, compared with 35 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ambrose
09182635199620102024

Decades

Ambrose by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ambrose 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 #1030 146 5
2010s #2042 124 10
2000s #2130 67 9
1990s #1812 19 3

Notable bearers

Famous people named Ambrose

  • Ambrose Rogers

    association football player

    Gaelic footballer

    2000-

  • Ambrose Reynolds

    guitarist

    British musician

    1960-

  • Ambrose Weekes

    Anglican priest

    Anglican Suffragan Bishop in Europe (1919-2012)

    1919-2012

  • Ambrose McGonigal

    judge; lawyer

    Belfast High Court judge; decorated World War II veteran

    1917-1979

  • Ambrose Reeves

    Anglican priest

    South African bishop (1899–1980)

    1899-1980

  • Ambrose Sherwill

    judge

    Bailiff of Guernsey

    1890-1968

  • Ambrose Woodall, 1st Baron Uvedale of North End

    politician; surgeon

    British surgeon

    1885-1974

  • Ambrose McEvoy

    painter; artist; visual artist

    English painter (1878-1927)

    1878-1927

Related

Names similar to Ambrose

FAQ

Ambrose: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ambrose in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ambrose was ranked #945 for boys in England and Wales, with 33 births registered.

When was Ambrose most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 35 babies registered as Ambrose in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ambrose?

Ambrose means immortal or divine in Greek origin.

How many people are called Ambrose in the UK?

A total of 356 babies have been registered as Ambrose across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.