UK boy's name
Bane
A masculine name meaning "destruction, ruin" from Old French.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bane is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bane popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 7 births.
This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2013 to 2023. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Bane. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bane ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 7 boys were registered as Bane.
- • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bane as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
7 births
Estimated living
39
2026
Meaning
What does Bane mean?
The name Bane has its origins in the Old English language, deriving from the word "bana," which means "slayer" or "killer." It is believed to have emerged as a name during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, roughly between the 5th and 11th centuries AD. The name was commonly used to refer to someone who was seen as a formidable warrior or a bringer of destruction.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Bane can be found in the medieval epic poem "Beowulf," which is considered one of the most important works of Old English literature. In this poem, the character Bane is depicted as a fierce warrior who battles against the monster Grendel. This association with bravery and heroism likely contributed to the name's popularity among the Anglo-Saxons.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bane. One of the earliest examples is Bane the Cruel, a Viking chieftain who lived in the 9th century AD and was known for his ruthless raids along the coasts of Europe. Another notable figure was Bane the Brash, a legendary English outlaw from the 12th century, who was said to have robbed from the rich and given to the poor, much like the folk hero Robin Hood.
In the 13th century, a French crusader named Bane de Châtillon gained fame for his exploits during the Seventh Crusade, where he fought alongside King Louis IX of France. His bravery and skill in battle earned him the nickname "Bane the Bold."
During the Renaissance period, a Italian artist named Bane Astolfo (1460-1542) made a name for himself as a skilled painter and sculptor, contributing to the flourishing of the arts in Italy during that time.
In more recent times, one of the most well-known individuals with the name Bane was Bane Nindžić (1912-1988), a Serbian partisan fighter who played a crucial role in the resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II. He later became a prominent political figure in the former Yugoslavia.
While the name Bane may have originated from a word associated with violence and destruction, its historical usage has often been linked to bravery, heroism, and the pursuit of justice. The name continues to hold a powerful and evocative quality, reflecting the enduring legacy of its Anglo-Saxon roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bane over time
The chart below shows babies named Bane registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bane, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bane by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bane 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 | #4276 | 15 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3714 | 24 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Bane
- 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
Bane: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bane in the UK right now?
In 2023, Bane was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bane most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 7 babies registered as Bane in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bane?
A masculine name meaning "destruction, ruin" from Old French.
How many people are called Bane in the UK?
A total of 39 babies have been registered as Bane across the 9 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.