UK girl's name
Candace
Of Greek origin meaning "set on fire, to glow".
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.
Candace is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Candace popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 10 births.
This profile covers 132 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 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 131 living people in the UK are called Candace. 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
- • Candace ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 10 girls were registered as Candace.
- • About 131 living people in the UK are estimated to have Candace as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2574
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
1998
10 births
Estimated living
131
2026
Meaning
What does Candace mean?
The name Candace has its origins in ancient Greek, tracing back to the Greco-Macedonian conquests of the 4th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "Kandake", which was the title given to the female rulers of the ancient Nubian kingdom of Kush, located in what is now modern-day Sudan. The name is believed to have meant "Queen" or "Royal Woman".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Candace can be found in the biblical book of Acts, which mentions a Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians. This reference dates back to the 1st century AD and suggests that the name was used by the ruling class of the Nubian kingdoms at that time.
In the Middle Ages, the name Candace fell out of popular use in most parts of the world. However, it resurfaced in the 16th century, when it was adopted by some English and Scottish families, likely inspired by the biblical reference.
The first notable bearer of the name Candace in modern times was Candace Parker (born 1986), an American professional basketball player who won two Olympic gold medals and was named the WNBA's Most Valuable Player in 2008 and 2013.
Another famous Candace was Candace Bushnell (born 1958), the American author best known for her novel "Sex and the City", which was later adapted into a popular television series and movies.
In the realm of politics, Candace Owens (born 1989) is a prominent African American conservative commentator and activist, known for her criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement and her support for former President Donald Trump.
Candace Cameron Bure (born 1976) is an American actress, producer, and author, best known for her role as D.J. Tanner on the sitcom "Full House" and its sequel series "Fuller House".
Finally, Candace Parker (born 1991) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, who gained recognition for her role as Amber Moore on the Disney Channel series "A.N.T. Farm".
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Candace over time
The chart below shows babies named Candace registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Candace, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Candace by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Candace 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 | #3324 | 28 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4134 | 32 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3544 | 44 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2312 | 28 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Candace
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Candace: questions and answers
How popular is the name Candace in the UK right now?
In 2024, Candace was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Candace most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 10 babies registered as Candace in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Candace?
Of Greek origin meaning "set on fire, to glow".
How many people are called Candace in the UK?
A total of 132 babies have been registered as Candace across the 23 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.