UK boy's name
Attila
Of Germanic origin, meaning "little father" or "little prince".
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.
Attila is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Attila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 22 births.
This profile covers 157 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2004 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 156 living people in the UK are called Attila. 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
- • Attila ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 22 boys were registered as Attila.
- • About 156 living people in the UK are estimated to have Attila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2015
22 births
Estimated living
156
2026
Meaning
What does Attila mean?
The name Attila has its origins in the Hunnic language, spoken by the nomadic Huns who roamed the Eurasian Steppe in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It is derived from the Hunnic root "Atta" meaning "father" or "lord," signifying strength, authority, and leadership.
Attila is most famously associated with Attila the Hun (406-453 AD), the legendary ruler who built a vast empire stretching from modern-day Germany to the Black Sea. He earned the moniker "the Scourge of God" for his fearsome reputation as a brutal warrior and conqueror, leading the Hunnic hordes in their relentless westward expansion across Europe.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Attila can be found in ancient Roman and Greek texts, where it was often used to refer to the Hunnic leader and his people. The Byzantine historian Priscus, who met Attila in 448 AD, provides one of the earliest written accounts of his life and reign.
Beyond the famous Attila the Hun, the name has been borne by several other notable historical figures. Attila I (1076-1131) was the King of Hungary from 1038 until his death, renowned for his military campaigns against the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantines. Attila II (1260-1285) was also a King of Hungary, ruling from 1285 until his death.
In more recent times, Attila József (1905-1937) was a celebrated Hungarian poet and a leading figure of the avant-garde literary movement in the early 20th century. His works, which often explored themes of social injustice and poverty, are widely regarded as some of the finest in Hungarian literature.
Another notable bearer of the name was Attila the Pauper (1925-1987), a Hungarian-born American chess master and writer. Despite his modest background, he achieved considerable success in chess tournaments and authored several books on the game, becoming a respected figure in the chess community.
Overall, the name Attila has a rich historical legacy, evoking images of power, strength, and leadership that can be traced back to the formidable Hunnic ruler who left an indelible mark on the European continent more than 1,500 years ago.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Attila over time
The chart below shows babies named Attila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Attila, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 22 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Attila by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Attila 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 | #2544 | 48 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2404 | 96 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3437 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Attila
- 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
Attila: questions and answers
How popular is the name Attila in the UK right now?
In 2024, Attila was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Attila most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 22 babies registered as Attila in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Attila?
Of Germanic origin, meaning "little father" or "little prince".
How many people are called Attila in the UK?
A total of 157 babies have been registered as Attila across the 18 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.