UK name, mostly boys
Bao
A Vietnamese name meaning "treasure" or "precious.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 16 girls.
Bao is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Bao popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 6 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2008 to 2022. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Bao. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bao ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 6 boys were registered as Bao.
- • Bao is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bao as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.8% of Bao registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
6 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Bao
In England and Wales birth records, Bao has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 62.8% of registrations are for boys and 37.2% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Bao registered for boys
- Ranked #4,789 in 2022
- 3 boys registered in 2022
- Peak: 2012 (6 births)
Bao registered for girls
- Ranked #5,493 in 2020
- 3 girls registered in 2020
- Peak: 2014 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Bao mean?
The name Bao is a unisex name with origins traced back to various cultures and languages. It has been in use for centuries, with various meanings and connotations across different regions.
In Chinese, the name Bao is a common masculine given name that can have several meanings. One interpretation is "precious" or "treasure", derived from the Chinese character "寶" (bǎo). Another meaning is "to wrap" or "to embrace", originating from the character "包" (bāo). This name has been popular in Chinese culture for generations.
In Vietnamese, the name Bao is a feminine given name that means "precious" or "valuable". It is derived from the same Chinese character "寶" (bǎo) and has been used in Vietnam for centuries, often given to girls as a wish for them to be cherished and valued.
The name Bao can also be found in Japanese, where it is written as "宝" (hō or takarabako), meaning "treasure" or "precious". It is a unisex name in Japanese and has been used for both male and female children.
In terms of historical references, the name Bao appears in various ancient Chinese texts and records. One notable example is Bao Zheng, a famous Chinese government officer and judge who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). He was renowned for his unwavering sense of justice and incorruptibility.
Another historical figure bearing the name Bao is Bao Qingtian, a Chinese poet and calligrapher who lived during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD). He is known for his exceptional calligraphy skills and his contributions to the preservation of traditional Chinese arts.
Moving to Vietnam, one of the earliest recorded examples of the name Bao is Bao Ninh, a Vietnamese writer and former soldier who fought in the Vietnam War. He was born in 1952 and is best known for his acclaimed novel "The Sorrow of War", which explores the brutal realities of the conflict.
In Japan, the name Bao has been carried by several notable figures throughout history, including Bao Yukiko (1890-1980), a renowned Japanese author and feminist activist who advocated for women's rights and education.
Another famous Japanese figure with the name Bao is Bao Dai (1913-1997), the last emperor of Vietnam. He ascended to the throne in 1926 and ruled until his abdication in 1945, after which he lived in exile in France.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and diverse cultural meanings associated with the name Bao, a name that has been cherished and celebrated across various regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bao over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bao in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bao, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bao by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bao 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3894 | 21 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Bao
- 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
Bao: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bao in the UK right now?
In 2022, Bao was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bao most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 6 babies registered as Bao in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bao?
A Vietnamese name meaning "treasure" or "precious.".
How many people are called Bao in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Bao across the 7 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.