NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Beckham

Of English origin, derived from the Old English place name meaning "homestead among the ridges".

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.

Beckham is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Beckham popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 11 births.

This profile covers 68 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1997 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 67 living people in the UK are called Beckham. 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

  • Beckham ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 11 boys were registered as Beckham.
  • About 67 living people in the UK are estimated to have Beckham as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

1999

11 births

Estimated living

67

2026

Meaning

What does Beckham mean?

The given name Beckham has its origins in the Old English language. It is believed to have derived from the combination of two words, "becc" meaning stream or brook, and "ham" meaning homestead or village. Therefore, the name Beckham likely referred to a settlement near a stream or a brook.

In the early medieval period, around the 7th to 11th centuries, the name Beckham was prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in the regions where Anglo-Saxon settlements were established. The name was often used to identify people who lived near streams or brooks, reflecting the geographical features of the area.

While there are no known records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in historical records and local archives from the medieval period onwards. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beckham can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Beckham. One of the earliest recorded was Sir William Beckham (c. 1350 – 1419), an English landowner and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was Thomas Beckham (c. 1530 – 1585), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, William Beckham (1609 – 1677) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia, known for his role in the establishment of the colony's tobacco trade. Later, in the 18th century, Samuel Beckham (1735 – 1810) was a revolutionary soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

One of the most famous bearers of the name in modern times is David Beckham (born 1975), the renowned English footballer who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the English national team. His success and popularity have contributed to the increased recognition of the name Beckham on a global scale.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Beckham over time

The chart below shows babies named Beckham registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Beckham, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Beckham
036811199720102024

Decades

Beckham by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Beckham 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 #3794 14 3
2010s #4275 7 2
2000s #2560 21 4
1990s #1432 26 3

Related

Names similar to Beckham

FAQ

Beckham: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Beckham was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Beckham most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 11 babies registered as Beckham in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Beckham?

Of English origin, derived from the Old English place name meaning "homestead among the ridges".

How many people are called Beckham in the UK?

A total of 68 babies have been registered as Beckham across the 12 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.