UK boy's name
Bai
A unisex name derived from Chinese, meaning "white" or "pure".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4023, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 5 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2005 to 2016. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Bai. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bai ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 5 boys were registered as Bai.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4023
2016
Births in 2016
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
5 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Bai mean?
The given name Bai has its origins in various cultures and languages across the world. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "bai," which means "white" or "pure." The name has been in use since ancient times in China, particularly among the Han Chinese ethnic group.
In Sanskrit, the name Bai is associated with the word "bai," meaning "little girl" or "daughter." It has been a popular name in India for centuries, particularly in the northern regions. The name also finds its roots in the Tamil language, where it is derived from the word "vai," meaning "garland" or "flower."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bai can be found in the ancient Chinese text, "The Book of Songs," which dates back to the 6th century BCE. The name is mentioned in several poems and verses, often associated with descriptions of beauty and purity.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Bai. One of the most famous was Bai Juyi (772-846 CE), a renowned Chinese poet and scholar during the Tang Dynasty. His works are considered among the finest in Classical Chinese literature.
Another historical figure was Bai Qiuying (1777-1854), a Chinese poet and painter from the Qing Dynasty. She was renowned for her exceptional calligraphy skills and her contributions to the development of the Lingnan painting style.
In India, Bai Santok Singh (1733-1789) was a prominent Sikh warrior and leader during the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Bai Bureh (c. 1845-1898) was a influential leader of the Temne people in Sierra Leone. He led a uprising against British colonial rule in the late 19th century, which became known as the Hut Tax War.
Bai Xiaochun (1775-1855) was a Chinese painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. She was renowned for her exceptional skills in the gongbi (meticulous) style of painting and her contributions to the development of the Shanghai School of painting.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Bai, highlighting its diverse cultural and linguistic origins, as well as its long-standing presence across various regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bai over time
The chart below shows babies named Bai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bai, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bai 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3662 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3610 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Bai
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Bai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bai in the UK right now?
In 2016, Bai was ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Bai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 5 babies registered as Bai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bai?
A unisex name derived from Chinese, meaning "white" or "pure".
How many people are called Bai in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Bai across the 5 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.