UK boy's name
Courage
A quality of resolute mind and firm spirit.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Courage is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Courage popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3687, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2008. 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.
Courage is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Courage. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Courage ranked #3687 for boys in England and Wales in 2008, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 boys were registered as Courage.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Courage as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3687
2008
Births in 2008
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Courage mean?
The name Courage is derived from the Old French word "corage", which itself comes from the Latin "cor" meaning "heart". It originated in medieval times and was often used as a virtue name, representing bravery, valor, and fortitude.
The earliest recorded use of the name Courage dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various literary works and historical records across Europe. One notable example is the French epic poem "The Song of Roland", which features a character named Courage who displays unwavering bravery in battle.
Throughout history, several famous individuals have borne the name Courage. One of the earliest was Courage le Vaillant (1265-1329), a French knight who fought alongside King Philip IV during the Hundred Years' War. His valorous deeds on the battlefield earned him the epithet "the Valiant".
Another notable figure was Courage Bradford (1590-1667), an English Puritan and one of the first settlers of the Plymouth Colony in North America. He is remembered for his resilience and determination in the face of adversity during the colony's early years.
In the 18th century, Courage Brewster (1723-1789) was a British naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. His daring exploits and leadership skills earned him a reputation as a fearless and courageous commander.
During the 19th century, Courage Hoskins (1842-1912) was a prominent African American educator and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to promoting equal educational opportunities for Black children and played a pivotal role in establishing several schools and colleges in the southern United States.
In more recent times, Courage Tshawane (1927-2005) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician. He spent years in prison for his role in the struggle against racial segregation and later served as a member of the post-apartheid government, working tirelessly to promote reconciliation and social justice.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Courage over time
The chart below shows babies named Courage registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Courage, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2008, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Courage by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Courage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3577 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Courage
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Courage: questions and answers
How popular is the name Courage in the UK right now?
In 2008, Courage was ranked #3687 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Courage most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Courage in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Courage?
A quality of resolute mind and firm spirit.
How many people are called Courage in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Courage 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.