UK name, mostly boys
Bowe
An English surname derived from the Old French word "bouvier" meaning herdsman.
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 9 girls.
Bowe is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Bowe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 6 births.
This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2014 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.
Bowe is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Bowe. 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
- • Bowe ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 6 boys were registered as Bowe.
- • Bowe is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bowe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.7% of Bowe registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2024
6 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Bowe
In England and Wales birth records, Bowe has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 72.7% of registrations are for boys and 27.3% 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.
Bowe registered for boys
- Ranked #3,254 in 2024
- 6 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (6 births)
Bowe registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2016
- 3 girls registered in 2016
- Peak: 2011 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Bowe mean?
The name Bowe is believed to have originated from the Old English word "boga," which means "bow" or "archer." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who was skilled in archery or worked as a bowyer, a maker of bows.
The earliest recorded use of the name Bowe dates back to the 13th century in England. It was during this period that surnames began to emerge, often derived from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics. The name Bowe likely arose as a descriptive surname for someone associated with the bow and arrow.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Bowe was John Bowe, a prominent English archer who lived in the late 14th century. He was renowned for his skill with the longbow and participated in several military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Richard Bowe was a prominent English scholar and theologian. He was born in 1499 and served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, from 1548 until his death in 1567.
Another historical figure with the name Bowe was John Bowe, an English Puritan minister who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1609 and served as a pastor in various parishes in England before emigrating to New England in 1638, where he continued his ministry.
In the 18th century, a significant figure bearing the name Bowe was Thomas Bowe, an English engraver and painter. He was born in 1718 and is best known for his engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects, as well as his paintings of portraits and historical scenes.
During the 19th century, a notable individual with the name Bowe was William Bowe, an Australian explorer and surveyor. He was born in 1802 and played a crucial role in the exploration and mapping of various regions in New South Wales and Queensland, contributing significantly to the understanding of the Australian landscape.
While the name Bowe has its roots in Old English, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history. These examples showcase the diverse individuals who have carried this name, from archers and scholars to ministers, artists, and explorers, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experiences associated with this distinctive moniker.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bowe over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bowe in England and Wales, from 2011 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 Bowe, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bowe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bowe 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 | #3748 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4506 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Bowe
- 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
Bowe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bowe in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bowe was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Bowe most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 6 babies registered as Bowe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bowe?
An English surname derived from the Old French word "bouvier" meaning herdsman.
How many people are called Bowe in the UK?
A total of 24 babies have been registered as Bowe across the 6 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.