UK boy's name
Ata
A masculine Turkish name meaning "forefather" or "ancestor".
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.
Ata is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ata popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 11 births.
This profile covers 151 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2000 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 64% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 150 living people in the UK are called Ata. 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
- • Ata ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 11 boys were registered as Ata.
- • About 150 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ata as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2020
11 births
Estimated living
150
2026
Meaning
What does Ata mean?
The name Ata is derived from the Turkish language and has its origins in Central Asia and the Middle East. It is a masculine name that means "forefather" or "ancestor" in Turkish. The name can also be traced back to the Old Turkic word "ata," which means "father" or "elder."
In ancient Turkish culture, the name Ata was often given to boys as a way to honor their ancestors and family lineage. It was seen as a respectful and honorable name that carried a sense of tradition and heritage.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ata can be found in the Orkhon inscriptions, a series of ancient Turkish monuments dating back to the 8th century AD. These inscriptions contain references to historical figures with the name Ata, indicating its use among the Göktürk people of Central Asia.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ata. One of the earliest was Ata Melik Juvayni, a Persian historian and statesman who lived in the 13th century. He was the author of the famous work "Tarikh-i Jahan-gusha" (The World-Conqueror's History), which documented the life and conquests of Genghis Khan.
Another prominent figure was Ata Hakim Nakhshabi, a Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 10th century. He was a renowned spiritual leader and the founder of the Nakhshbandi order of Sufism, which had a significant influence in Central Asia and the Middle East.
In the realm of literature, Ata Terzibaşı was a renowned Turkish poet and satirist who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his witty and humorous poems that often criticized social and political issues of his time.
In more recent history, Ata Kandili was a Turkish military officer and statesman who played a crucial role in the Turkish War of Independence in the early 20th century. He served as the first Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
Another notable figure was Ata Özen, a Turkish film director and screenwriter who was influential in the development of Turkish cinema in the latter half of the 20th century. His films often explored themes of social and cultural identity in modern Turkey.
While the name Ata has its roots in Turkish culture, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages over time, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia, where Turkish influence has been significant.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ata over time
The chart below shows babies named Ata registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 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 Ata, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ata by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ata 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 | #2483 | 43 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2967 | 65 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2773 | 43 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Ata
- 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
Ata: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ata in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ata was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Ata most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 11 babies registered as Ata in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ata?
A masculine Turkish name meaning "forefather" or "ancestor".
How many people are called Ata in the UK?
A total of 151 babies have been registered as Ata across the 23 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.