UK boy's name
Atilla
A masculine name of Turkic/Germanic origin meaning "little father" or "little ruler".
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.
Atilla is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Atilla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 11 births.
This profile covers 67 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1998 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 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 67 living people in the UK are called Atilla. 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
- • Atilla ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 11 boys were registered as Atilla.
- • About 67 living people in the UK are estimated to have Atilla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2012
11 births
Estimated living
67
2026
Meaning
What does Atilla mean?
The name Atilla has its origins in the Hunnic language spoken by the nomadic Huns who inhabited parts of Central Asia and Eastern Europe during the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It is derived from the word "Atta," which means "father" or "leader of the people." The name was popularized by the legendary Hunnic ruler Attila the Hun, who led a vast empire that stretched across much of Europe during the 5th century.
Attila the Hun was born around 406 AD and ruled the Hunnic Empire from 434 until his death in 453. He was known for his military prowess and his ruthless campaigns that struck fear into the hearts of his enemies. Attila's name has become synonymous with barbarian conquest and destruction, and he is remembered as one of the most fearsome warlords in history.
The name Atilla has been used throughout various cultures and time periods, often as a reference to the legendary Hunnic leader. In the 12th century, a German nobleman named Attila von Hohenburg is recorded as having carried the name. Later, in the 15th century, a Hungarian military commander named Attila Lépes was noted for his service in the Ottoman-Hungarian wars.
In more recent times, the name Atilla has been used by several notable individuals. Atilla the Hun, born Semih Gökçen in 1923, was a Turkish wrestler and actor who gained fame for his portrayal of the legendary Hunnic leader in the 1954 film "Attila." Atilla İlhan, born in 1925, was a renowned Turkish poet and author whose works explored themes of love, politics, and social commentary.
Another notable figure with the name Atilla was Atilla Şoray, a Turkish actress and singer born in 1938. She was a prominent figure in Turkish cinema during the 1960s and 1970s and is considered a cultural icon in Turkey. Atilla Özsever, born in 1940, was a Turkish novelist and playwright whose works often explored themes of social injustice and political oppression.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Atilla, a name that evokes a sense of power, leadership, and the legacy of one of the most infamous military leaders of the ancient world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Atilla over time
The chart below shows babies named Atilla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Atilla, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Atilla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Atilla 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 | #4310 | 17 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3645 | 31 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3557 | 14 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2074 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Atilla
- 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
Atilla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Atilla in the UK right now?
In 2024, Atilla was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Atilla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 11 babies registered as Atilla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Atilla?
A masculine name of Turkic/Germanic origin meaning "little father" or "little ruler".
How many people are called Atilla in the UK?
A total of 67 babies have been registered as Atilla across the 15 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.