UK boy's name
Aran
Derived from the Irish word "arán" meaning "bread" or "sustenance".
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.
Aran is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1025, with 29 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 54 births.
This profile covers 1,116 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 54% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,183 living people in the UK are called Aran. 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
- • Aran ranked #1025 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 29 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 54 boys were registered as Aran.
- • Aran ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #243 in 2002.
- • About 1,183 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1025
2024
Births in 2024
29
Latest year
Peak year
2014
54 births
Estimated living
1,183
2026
Meaning
What does Aran mean?
The name Aran is believed to have its origins in the Celtic languages, particularly Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "árann," which means "bread" or "sustenance." The name has been in use since ancient times in Ireland and Scotland.
One of the earliest known references to the name Aran can be found in Irish mythology. Aran was the name of a legendary Irish warrior and chieftain who lived during the 5th century AD. He is mentioned in several ancient Irish texts and is said to have been a renowned leader and defender of his people.
In the 7th century AD, there was a famous Irish monk named Aran who was the founder of the monastic settlement on the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. The islands are still known as the Aran Islands today, and they remain an important part of Irish cultural heritage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Aran. One of the earliest recorded was Aran mac Finguine, a 7th-century King of Munster in Ireland. Another notable figure was Aran of St. Gall, a 9th-century Irish monk and scribe who worked at the famous monastery of St. Gall in Switzerland.
In the 12th century, there was Aran ua Conchobair, an Irish nobleman and leader who played a significant role in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. He was a member of the powerful O'Conor dynasty and was known for his military prowess and resistance against the invading Norman forces.
In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the name Aran was Aran Ismail (1916-2004), a renowned Egyptian actor and filmmaker. He was one of the most celebrated actors of the golden age of Egyptian cinema and was known for his versatility and talent in both comic and dramatic roles.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have borne the name Aran throughout history. While the name may have evolved and taken on different spellings and variations over time, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland, where it was closely associated with concepts of sustenance, nourishment, and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aran over time
The chart below shows babies named Aran 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 Aran, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 29 births in 2024, compared with 54 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aran 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 | #966 | 154 | 5 |
| 2010s | #761 | 431 | 10 |
| 2000s | #668 | 362 | 10 |
| 1990s | #480 | 169 | 4 |
Geography
Where Aran is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aran. 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.
Aran ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #243 in 2002.
Across the UK
Aran in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
15 years of NRS records, 65 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#243 in 2002
3 years of NISRA records, 11 total registered
Related
Names similar to Aran
- 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
Aran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aran in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aran was ranked #1025 for boys in England and Wales, with 29 births registered.
When was Aran most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 54 babies registered as Aran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aran?
Derived from the Irish word "arán" meaning "bread" or "sustenance".
How many people are called Aran in the UK?
A total of 1,116 babies have been registered as Aran across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 65 more in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Aran most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Aran ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #243 in 2002. 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.