NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Campbell

A masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "crooked mouth" or "crooked stream".

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.

Campbell is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Campbell 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 2004, with 32 births.

This profile covers 529 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,684 living people in the UK are called Campbell. 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

  • Campbell ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 32 boys were registered as Campbell.
  • Campbell ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #218 in 2024.
  • About 1,684 living people in the UK are estimated to have Campbell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.2% of Campbell registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3254

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2004

32 births

Estimated living

1,684

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Campbell

In England and Wales birth records, Campbell has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.2% of registrations are for boys and 0.8% 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.

99% boys
Boys529 (99.2%)Girls4 (0.8%)

Campbell registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,254 in 2024
  • 6 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2004 (32 births)

Campbell registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,739 in 2013
  • 4 girls registered in 2013
  • Peak: 2013 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Campbell mean?

The name Campbell has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically from the Scottish Highlands. It is derived from the Gaelic words "cam" meaning crooked, and "beul" meaning mouth or entrance, likely referring to a geographical feature such as a bay or valley.

The earliest recorded use of the name Campbell dates back to the 13th century in Scotland, where it was initially a surname. The Campbell clan was one of the most powerful and influential Scottish clans, particularly in the region of Argyll.

One of the earliest and most notable figures with the name Campbell was Sir Nigel Campbell, who lived in the late 13th century and was a prominent Scottish knight and military commander. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

In the 15th century, Duncan Campbell of Lochow, also known as Duncan Campbell of Argyll, was a Scottish nobleman and Lord of Argyll. He was a prominent figure in the political and military affairs of Scotland during his time.

In the 16th century, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, was a Scottish nobleman and Protestant Reformer. He played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation, supporting the Protestant cause against the Catholic church.

In the 17th century, John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane, was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was a prominent figure in the Jacobite risings and played a significant role in the political affairs of Scotland during that period.

In the 18th century, John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, was a Scottish nobleman and British Army officer. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1756 to 1759 and played a role in the French and Indian War.

These are just a few examples of notable figures throughout history who bore the name Campbell, highlighting its strong connection to Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Campbell over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Campbell 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 Campbell, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
08162432199620102024

Decades

Campbell by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Campbell 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 #2611 40 5
2010s #1699 155 10
2000s #884 248 10
1990s #749 86 4

Geography

Where Campbell is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Campbell. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Campbell ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #218 in 2024.

Scotland
19
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Campbell in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#218 in 2024

51 years of NRS records, 1,177 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#307 in 2005

1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Campbell

  • Campbell Walsh

    kayaker; canoeist

    Scottish slalom canoeist

    1977-

  • Campbell Ogilvie

    association football coach; association football player

    Scottish footballer (born 1950)

    1950-

  • Campbell Singer

    actor; television actor

    British actor (1909-1976)

    1909-1976

  • Campbell Tait

    military personnel; military officer; naval officer

    British naval officer, Governor of Southern Rhodesia 1945/1946 (1886-1946)

    1886-1946

  • Campbell Stephen

    politician

    British politician (1884-1947)

    1884-1947

Related

Names similar to Campbell

FAQ

Campbell: questions and answers

How popular is the name Campbell in the UK right now?

In 2024, Campbell was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Campbell most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 32 babies registered as Campbell in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Campbell?

A masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "crooked mouth" or "crooked stream".

How many people are called Campbell in the UK?

A total of 529 babies have been registered as Campbell across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 1,177 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Campbell most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Campbell ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #218 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.