NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Cuinn

A Celtic masculine name derived from the word "cuinn" meaning "leader" or "chief".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Cuinn is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cuinn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2016 to 2016. 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.

Cuinn is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Cuinn. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Cuinn ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 3 boys were registered as Cuinn.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cuinn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4810

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Cuinn mean?

The given name Cuinn is derived from the Old Irish word "cúan", meaning "harbor" or "bay". This name has its roots in the Celtic culture and is believed to have originated in Ireland during the medieval period, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD.

The name Cuinn is often associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Connacht, which was located in the western part of Ireland. The name was particularly popular among the ruling dynasties of Connacht, and it is likely that some early bearers of the name were influential figures in this region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cuinn can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a king named Cuinn Cétchathach (anglicized as Conn of the Hundred Battles), who ruled the Kingdom of Tara in the 2nd century AD. While the historical accuracy of this figure is debated, his name has become a part of Irish folklore and legends.

Another notable figure with the name Cuinn was Saint Cuinn of Iona, a 7th-century Irish monk and missionary who is venerated in the Scottish island of Iona. He is believed to have played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in the region.

In the 10th century, Cuinn mac Ailpin was a King of Scotland who ruled from 967 to 971 AD. He was part of the House of Alpin, a Scottish royal dynasty.

During the Middle Ages, the name Cuinn appeared in various Irish and Scottish literary works, such as the Annals of the Four Masters and the Book of Leinster.

Other historical figures with the name Cuinn include:

1. Cuinn Cétchathach (2nd century AD), legendary High King of Ireland 2. Cuinn of Iona (7th century AD), Irish monk and missionary 3. Cuinn mac Ailpin (967-971 AD), King of Scotland 4. Cuinn Ó Lochlainn (13th century), Irish ruler and chieftain 5. Cuinn Ua Laoghaire (14th century), Irish poet and scholar

While the name Cuinn has its roots in ancient Irish and Celtic cultures, it has also been used in various forms and spellings across different regions and time periods, reflecting the rich tapestry of names that have evolved throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Cuinn by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cuinn 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
2010s #4810 3 1

Related

Names similar to Cuinn

FAQ

Cuinn: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Cuinn was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Cuinn most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 3 babies registered as Cuinn in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Cuinn?

A Celtic masculine name derived from the word "cuinn" meaning "leader" or "chief".

How many people are called Cuinn in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Cuinn across the 1 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.