UK boy's name
Bless
A given name derived from the English word meaning to consecrate or make holy.
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.
Bless is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bless popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 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 14 living people in the UK are called Bless. 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
- • Bless ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 boys were registered as Bless.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bless as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Bless mean?
The name Bless has its origins in Old English, derived from the word "bletsian," which means "to consecrate or make holy." This name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in regions where English was spoken, such as Britain and parts of what is now the United States.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bless can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Blessius," likely a Latin variation of the Old English name.
In the 12th century, the name Bless is mentioned in the writings of the English historian and theologian William of Malmesbury. He refers to a monk named Bless who lived in the Abbey of Glastonbury during the late 11th century.
The name Bless has also been associated with religious figures and saints throughout history. One notable example is Blessed Blesilla, a 4th-century Roman noblewoman who dedicated her life to Christianity and asceticism. Her name is derived from the Latin word "blessus," meaning "blessed."
Among the earliest recorded individuals with the name Bless was Bless of Montserrat (c. 1010-1075), a Benedictine monk and abbot of the Monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Another notable figure was Bless Fenor (c. 1280-1349), an English theologian and philosopher who studied at the University of Oxford. He is known for his contributions to the development of medieval scholasticism.
In the 15th century, Bless Chetwood (c. 1420-1492) was an English cleric and bishop who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1486 until his death.
During the 16th century, Bless Alvarez (c. 1510-1568) was a Portuguese missionary and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He is celebrated for his work in spreading Christianity in Europe and Asia.
Bless Lochner (1567-1624) was a German painter and engraver known for his religious artworks, particularly his depictions of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bless over time
The chart below shows babies named Bless registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Bless, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bless by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bless 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 | #3990 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3768 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Bless
- 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
Bless: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bless in the UK right now?
In 2021, Bless was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Bless most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Bless in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bless?
A given name derived from the English word meaning to consecrate or make holy.
How many people are called Bless in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Bless across the 4 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.