UK girl's name
Cyprus
An ancient island name possibly derived from the Greek word "kypros", meaning copper.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cyprus is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Cyprus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4686, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2019. 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 11 living people in the UK are called Cyprus. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cyprus ranked #4686 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 girls were registered as Cyprus.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cyprus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4686
2019
Births in 2019
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Cyprus mean?
The name Cyprus is derived from the ancient Greek name of the island of Cyprus, which was known as Kypros or Kupros in ancient times. The name is believed to have originated from the word "kuprios," which means "copper" in Greek, as the island was a major source of copper in ancient times.
The name Cyprus first appeared in historical records around the 8th century BC, when the island was a part of the ancient Greek world. It is mentioned in various ancient Greek texts, including the works of Homer and Herodotus.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Cyprus was Cyprus of Panionia, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 6th century BC. He was a follower of the philosopher Anaximander and was known for his teachings on the nature of the universe.
In the ancient Roman world, the name Cyprus was also used, although less commonly than in the Greek world. One notable individual with this name was Cyprian of Carthage, a Christian bishop and martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. He is considered an important early Christian writer and is remembered for his writings on the unity of the Church.
During the Middle Ages, the name Cyprus was relatively uncommon, but it did appear in some historical records. One notable individual with this name was Cyprus the Black, a 12th-century French crusader who participated in the Third Crusade and was known for his bravery in battle.
In the Renaissance period, the name Cyprus gained some popularity among humanist scholars who were interested in reviving ancient Greek culture and language. One famous individual with this name was Cyprus Milanuzzi, an Italian humanist and poet who lived in the 15th century.
Over the centuries, the name Cyprus has been used by individuals from various cultures and backgrounds, but it has remained relatively rare. Some other notable individuals with this name include Cyprus Townsend, an American composer and musician who lived in the 19th century, and Cyprus Torrenté, an Argentine writer and poet who was active in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cyprus over time
The chart below shows babies named Cyprus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cyprus, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cyprus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cyprus 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 | #5176 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Cyprus
- 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
Cyprus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cyprus in the UK right now?
In 2019, Cyprus was ranked #4686 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Cyprus most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Cyprus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cyprus?
An ancient island name possibly derived from the Greek word "kypros", meaning copper.
How many people are called Cyprus in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Cyprus across the 3 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.