UK boy's name
Bosco
Of Italian origin, a name meaning "small forest" or "woodsy".
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.
Bosco is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bosco popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 6 births.
This profile covers 57 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2008 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Bosco. 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
- • Bosco ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 6 boys were registered as Bosco.
- • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bosco as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2014
6 births
Estimated living
57
2026
Meaning
What does Bosco mean?
The name Bosco originates from the Italian language and is derived from the word "bosco," meaning "woods" or "forest." It is believed to have its roots in the ancient Roman era, when woodlands and forests played a significant role in the lives of people.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Bosco can be traced back to St. John Bosco, an Italian Catholic priest born in 1815. He dedicated his life to educating and caring for disadvantaged youth, and his teachings and methods of education became widely influential. The name Bosco was likely chosen to reflect his affinity for the simplicity and tranquility of nature.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bosco. One such person was Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (480-524), a Roman philosopher, and theologian who significantly influenced medieval Christian philosophy. His work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," is considered a masterpiece of its time.
Another prominent figure was Hieronymus Boscus (1470-1516), an Italian physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties. His work, "De Plantis," was an influential botanical text during the Renaissance period.
In the realm of art, Bosco was also the name of the renowned Italian painter and printmaker, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778). He is best known for his etchings of ancient Roman ruins and architectural fantasies, which helped shape the Neoclassical and Romantic art movements.
Bosco Nedelcovic (1911-1939) was a Serbian author and poet who played a significant role in the development of modern Serbian literature. His works often explored themes of existentialism and the human condition, reflecting the social and political turmoil of the time.
The name Bosco has a rich historical background, rooted in the Italian language and culture. Its connection to nature, philosophy, art, and literature has made it a distinctive and enduring name throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bosco over time
The chart below shows babies named Bosco registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Bosco, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bosco by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bosco 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 | #3465 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3714 | 27 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3451 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Bosco
- 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
Bosco: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bosco in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bosco was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Bosco most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 6 babies registered as Bosco in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bosco?
Of Italian origin, a name meaning "small forest" or "woodsy".
How many people are called Bosco in the UK?
A total of 57 babies have been registered as Bosco 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.