UK name, mostly boys
Blue
A color name indicating tranquility, stability, and peacefulness.
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 girls' name in the UK, with 156 girls.
Blue is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Blue popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1076, with 27 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 27 births.
This profile covers 466 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 463 living people in the UK are called Blue. 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
- • Blue ranked #1076 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 27 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 27 boys were registered as Blue.
- • Blue is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 463 living people in the UK are estimated to have Blue as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 74.9% of Blue registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1076
2024
Births in 2024
27
Latest year
Peak year
2021
27 births
Estimated living
463
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Blue
In England and Wales birth records, Blue has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 74.9% of registrations are for boys and 25.1% 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.
Blue registered for boys
- Ranked #1,076 in 2024
- 27 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (27 births)
Blue registered for girls
- Ranked #2,574 in 2024
- 10 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2018 (15 births)
Meaning
What does Blue mean?
The name Blue has its origins in the English language, stemming from the color word "blue." The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the late 19th century, though it was initially more common as a nickname or middle name rather than a first name.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Blue was Blue Howell, an American baseball player born in 1888. He played in the major leagues for several teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators, between 1909 and 1920.
Another notable figure with the name Blue was Blue Mitchell, an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in 1930. He was known for his work with various jazz ensembles and his collaborations with artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.
In the world of literature, one of the most famous individuals with the name Blue was Blue Balliett, an American author born in 1955. She is best known for her children's mystery novels, including "Chasing Vermeer" and "The Wright 3."
The name Blue also has connections to the entertainment industry. Blue Deckert, born in 1962, is an American actress known for her roles in films such as "Cobra" and "The Night Stalker."
Historically, the name Blue has been associated with various cultures and belief systems. In some Native American traditions, the color blue is believed to represent the sky and is considered a sacred color. Additionally, in certain Buddhist teachings, the color blue is associated with the concept of the infinite and the boundless.
While the name Blue may have been initially used more as a descriptive nickname or middle name, it has gained popularity as a first name in recent decades. Its unique and unconventional nature has appealed to many parents seeking distinctive names for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Blue over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Blue 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 Blue, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 27 births in 2024, compared with 27 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Blue by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Blue 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 | #1130 | 124 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1359 | 193 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1633 | 111 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1411 | 38 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Blue
- 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
Blue: questions and answers
How popular is the name Blue in the UK right now?
In 2024, Blue was ranked #1076 for boys in England and Wales, with 27 births registered.
When was Blue most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 27 babies registered as Blue in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Blue?
A color name indicating tranquility, stability, and peacefulness.
How many people are called Blue in the UK?
A total of 466 babies have been registered as Blue across the 29 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.