NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Baz

A short form of the name Basil, derived from Greek basileus meaning "king".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Baz is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Baz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2020 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Baz. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Baz ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 3 boys were registered as Baz.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Baz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2020

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Baz mean?

The name Baz has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to the 6th century BCE. It is derived from the old Persian word "baz," which means "falcon" or "hawk." The name was initially used to describe someone with keen eyesight or a sharp, hunting spirit.

In ancient Persian mythology, the falcon was revered as a symbol of strength, courage, and nobility. The name Baz was often given to warriors and hunters who embodied these qualities. It was also associated with the Zoroastrian religion, which was prevalent in ancient Persia.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Baz can be found in the Shahnameh, a epic poem written by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. In this work, Baz is mentioned as the name of a legendary warrior who fought bravely in the wars between Iran and Turan.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Baz. One of the most famous was Baz Bahadur (1501-1556), a Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate in central India. He was known for his military prowess and patronage of art and culture.

Another notable figure was Baz Mohammad Khan (1640-1707), a Mughal governor and military commander who served under the Emperors Aurangzeb and Shah Alam Bahadur Shahi. He played a crucial role in the Mughal conquest of the Deccan region.

In the 19th century, Baz Ganj (1789-1862) was a prominent Indian Muslim scholar and religious leader who wrote extensively on Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

Baz Bahadur Bukhari (1858-1943) was a renowned Sufi saint and spiritual leader from Pakistan, known for his teachings on mysticism and self-realization.

More recently, Baz Luhrmann (born 1962) is an Australian filmmaker and writer, best known for his visually stunning and unconventional films such as "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Great Gatsby."

While the name Baz has its roots in Persian culture, it has been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with historical ties to the Persian Empire or Islamic influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Baz over time

The chart below shows babies named Baz registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Baz, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Baz
01223202020202021

Decades

Baz by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Baz 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 #4699 6 2

Related

Names similar to Baz

FAQ

Baz: questions and answers

How popular is the name Baz in the UK right now?

In 2021, Baz was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Baz most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 3 babies registered as Baz in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Baz?

A short form of the name Basil, derived from Greek basileus meaning "king".

How many people are called Baz in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Baz across the 2 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.