UK boy's name
Bon
A French name meaning "good" or "kind".
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.
Bon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2001 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 15 living people in the UK are called Bon. 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
- • Bon ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 boys were registered as Bon.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
3 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Bon mean?
The given name Bon is a diminutive of the French masculine name Bonnet, which means "good" or "kind." It originated from the Old French word "bon," derived from the Latin word "bonus," meaning "good." The name has been used in various parts of Europe, particularly in France, since the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bon can be found in the 12th-century French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland" (The Song of Roland), where a character named Bon is mentioned. In the 14th century, a French poet and composer named Guillaume de Machaut wrote a musical composition titled "Bon Jour, Bon Mois, et Bonne Estrenne" (Good Day, Good Month, and Good New Year).
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bon. One of the most famous was Bon Gaultier (c. 1590-1668), a French satirist and poet who was known for his witty and humorous works. Another notable figure was Bon de Lezardière (c. 1615-1677), a French naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the Caribbean and North America.
In the 18th century, Bon-André Blondel (1741-1784) was a French architect and engineer who made significant contributions to the design of bridges and other structures. In the 19th century, Bon-Joseph Dacier (1742-1833) was a French philologist and scholar who specialized in the study of ancient Greek literature.
More recently, in the 20th century, Bon Scott (1946-1980) was the legendary lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC, known for his powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence. Despite his untimely death at the age of 33, he left a lasting impact on the music industry and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock singers of all time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bon over time
The chart below shows babies named Bon registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Bon, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bon by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bon 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3937 | 12 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bon
- 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
Bon: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bon in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bon was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bon most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Bon in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bon?
A French name meaning "good" or "kind".
How many people are called Bon in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Bon across the 5 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.