UK boy's name
Cub
A diminutive form of bear, referring to a young bear cub.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cub is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cub popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 6 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2018 to 2022. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Cub. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cub ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 6 boys were registered as Cub.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cub as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
6 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Cub mean?
The given name Cub has its origins in the English language, and it emerged as a shortened form of the name Cubert or Cuthbert. The name Cuthbert is derived from the Old English words "cūð," meaning "famous" or "well-known," and "beorht," meaning "bright" or "shining." The name was popular during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, particularly in the 7th and 8th centuries.
One of the earliest known references to the name Cub can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which mentions a person named Cub during the reign of King Æthelred the Unready in the late 10th century. However, the name gained more widespread popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly among the lower classes and peasantry.
In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the name was Cub of Stoke, a landowner and knight who is mentioned in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of England. Another historical figure with the name Cub was Cub the Fletcher, a renowned fletcher (arrow-maker) who lived in the 14th century and was celebrated for his exceptional craftsmanship.
During the Renaissance period, the name Cub was less common, but it did have a few notable bearers. One such individual was Cub Woodhouse (c. 1520-1588), an English merchant and explorer who was involved in the early colonization efforts in North America.
In the 17th century, Cub Allerton (1611-1689) was a prominent Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He played a significant role in the establishment of the town of Marblehead and served as a representative in the General Court of Massachusetts.
Another notable figure with the name Cub was Cub Bradshaw (1633-1702), an English judge and politician who served as Lord President of the Council during the reign of King William III. He was known for his impartial rulings and his commitment to upholding the rule of law.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the given name Cub, which has its roots in the Old English language and was particularly popular during the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cub over time
The chart below shows babies named Cub registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cub, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cub by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cub 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 | #4120 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3213 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Cub
- 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
Cub: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cub in the UK right now?
In 2022, Cub was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cub most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 6 babies registered as Cub in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cub?
A diminutive form of bear, referring to a young bear cub.
How many people are called Cub in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Cub across the 4 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.