NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Beren

An English name meaning "brave" or "protector" in Sindarin (Elvish language).

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 99 boys.

Beren is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Beren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 14 births.

This profile covers 118 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2005 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 117 living people in the UK are called Beren. 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

  • Beren ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 14 girls were registered as Beren.
  • Beren is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 117 living people in the UK are estimated to have Beren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 54.4% of Beren registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2010

14 births

Estimated living

117

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Beren

In England and Wales birth records, Beren has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 45.6% of registrations are for boys and 54.4% 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.

46% boys
54% girls
Boys99 (45.6%)Girls118 (54.4%)

Beren registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,671 in 2024
  • 8 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2007 (8 births)

Beren registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,843 in 2024
  • 4 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2010 (14 births)

Meaning

What does Beren mean?

The name Beren is derived from the Sindarin Elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien for his legendarium. It first appeared in his epic fantasy novel The Silmarillion, which was published posthumously in 1977 but was written in the early 20th century.

In Tolkien's mythology, Beren was a mortal man who fell in love with the Elvish princess Lúthien. Their tale of love and sacrifice against the dark lord Morgoth is one of the central stories in The Silmarillion. The name Beren has no direct translation but is likely meant to evoke strength and valor.

While the name has no real-world historical usage prior to Tolkien's works, it has gained popularity among fantasy fans and Tolkien enthusiasts in recent decades. Some notable people named Beren include:

Beren Saat (born 1984), a Turkish actor known for his roles in TV series like Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? and Ramo.

Beren Bauman (born 1985), an American musician and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Beware of Darkness.

Beren Eccles-Williams (born 1990), a Welsh rugby union player who has represented Wales at the under-20 level.

Beren Cross (dates unknown), an English illustrator and artist known for her fantasy artwork inspired by Tolkien's works.

Beren Rubik (born 1998), an Australian-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in London.

While the name remains relatively uncommon outside of Tolkien fandom, its use as a given name has increased in recent years, particularly among parents who appreciate its unique sound and literary connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Beren over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Beren in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Beren, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0591418199620102024

Decades

Beren by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Beren 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 #3856 29 5
2010s #3207 81 10
2000s #4469 8 2

Related

Names similar to Beren

FAQ

Beren: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Beren was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Beren most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 14 babies registered as Beren in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Beren?

An English name meaning "brave" or "protector" in Sindarin (Elvish language).

How many people are called Beren in the UK?

A total of 118 babies have been registered as Beren across the 17 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.