UK boy's name
Anselm
A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "divine protector".
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.
Anselm is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Anselm popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2008 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Anselm. 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
- • Anselm ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 boys were registered as Anselm.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anselm as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
4 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Anselm mean?
The name Anselm originated from the Germanic language, derived from the root words "ans" meaning "divine" and "helm" meaning "protection" or "helmet". It was likely first used in the 8th or 9th century, during the reign of the Carolingian dynasty in Western Europe.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Saint Anselm of Canterbury, an Italian monk and philosopher born in 1033 in Aosta, Italy. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093 and is renowned for his influential theological writings, including the famous ontological argument for the existence of God.
Another notable figure was Anselm of Besate, an Italian theologian and philosopher born around 1035 in Besate, Lombardy. He was a follower of the teachings of Saint Anselm of Canterbury and wrote several works on theology and philosophy.
In the 12th century, Anselm of Havelberg was a German chronicler and bishop born around 1080 in Havelberg, Saxony. He is known for his comprehensive chronicle of the history of the Bishopric of Havelberg, which provides valuable insights into the region's medieval history.
During the Renaissance period, Anselm Casimir Tengnagel was a Dutch artist and engraver born in 1573 in Oldenburg. He was renowned for his intricate engravings and etchings, many of which depicted religious scenes and portraits of notable figures of the time.
In the 19th century, Anselm Feuerbach was a German painter and one of the leading representatives of the German Romantic movement. Born in 1829 in Speyer, he is best known for his mythological and biblical paintings, such as "Iphigenia" and "The Symposium".
Throughout history, the name Anselm has been associated with various individuals who have made significant contributions to fields such as theology, philosophy, art, and literature. Its Germanic roots and connections to religious figures like Saint Anselm of Canterbury have given the name a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anselm over time
The chart below shows babies named Anselm registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Anselm, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anselm by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anselm 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3830 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3716 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Anselm
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Anselm: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anselm in the UK right now?
In 2024, Anselm was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anselm most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Anselm in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anselm?
A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "divine protector".
How many people are called Anselm in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Anselm across the 4 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.