UK girl's name
Brigit
An Irish feminine name derived from the Celtic goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Brigit is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Brigit popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 1998. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Brigit. 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 1999 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Brigit ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 girls were registered as Brigit.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Brigit as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3848
1998
Births in 1998
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Brigit mean?
The given name Brigit has its origins in the Celtic cultures of ancient Ireland and Britain. It is derived from the Old Irish Bríg or Brighid, meaning "exalted one" or "high one". The name is closely associated with the pre-Christian Celtic goddess of the same name, who was revered as the patroness of poetry, healing, and smithcraft.
Brigit was one of the most prominent deities in the pagan Celtic pantheon, and her name appears in numerous ancient Irish texts and manuscripts, including the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of the Taking of Ireland) and the Cath Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Mag Tuired). The goddess was honored during the festival of Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st, marking the beginning of spring in the Celtic calendar.
In the 5th century AD, with the spread of Christianity in Ireland, the pagan goddess Brigit became associated with St. Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland. St. Brigid (c. 451-525) is credited with founding several monasteries, including the famous Kildare Abbey, and is renowned for her generosity, compassion, and commitment to serving the poor and sick.
Throughout history, notable individuals bearing the name Brigit or its variants include Brigit of Sweden (c. 1303-1373), a renowned medieval mystic and religious writer; Bridget Downing (1490-1558), an English Catholic martyr executed during the reign of Queen Mary I; Brigitte de Pompadour (1734-1806), a French noblewoman and close friend of Marie Antoinette; and Brigid Brophy (1929-1995), an English novelist, critic, and feminist writer.
In modern times, the name Brigit has maintained its popularity, particularly in Ireland and other Celtic regions, as a connection to the rich cultural heritage and mythology of the ancient Celts. Its enduring appeal lies in its strong historical roots and associations with the revered goddess and saint, embodying themes of strength, creativity, and spirituality.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Brigit over time
The chart below shows babies named Brigit registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 1998. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Brigit, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 1998, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Brigit by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Brigit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3836 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Brigit
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Brigit: questions and answers
How popular is the name Brigit in the UK right now?
In 1998, Brigit was ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Brigit most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Brigit in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Brigit?
An Irish feminine name derived from the Celtic goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom.
How many people are called Brigit in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Brigit across the 2 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.