UK boy's name
Daine
A nature-inspired name of Celtic origin meaning "crown of brightness".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Daine is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Daine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3009, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 8 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1998 to 2004. 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 25 living people in the UK are called Daine. 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 2005 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Daine ranked #3009 for boys in England and Wales in 2004, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 8 boys were registered as Daine.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Daine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3009
2004
Births in 2004
4
Latest year
Peak year
2001
8 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Daine mean?
The name Daine is of Celtic origin, derived from the Gaelic word "dian," which means "ardent" or "vehement." It is believed to have been used as a personal name in Ireland and Scotland as early as the 5th century AD.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Daine can be found in the ancient Irish text known as the Annals of Ulster, which mentions a Daine mac Conaill who lived in the 7th century AD. This text provides valuable insights into the early use of the name in Ireland.
In the 9th century, the name Daine appeared in the Book of Leinster, an important medieval Irish manuscript containing various historical and literary texts. This suggests that the name was well-established and in use among the Irish population at that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Daine. One such figure was Daine O'Malley (c. 1210-1268), an Irish chieftain and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 13th century.
Another prominent figure with the name Daine was Daine MacGregor (1555-1624), a Scottish clan chief and military commander who played a significant role in the Scottish clan wars of the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the realm of literature, Daine is the name of a character in Tamora Pierce's fantasy novel series "The Immortals." Daine, the protagonist, is a young woman with a unique ability to communicate with animals, and her adventures are central to the story.
The name Daine has also been used in various artistic and creative works, such as films, plays, and music, further contributing to its cultural significance and recognition.
It is worth noting that the name Daine, while not as common as some other Celtic names, has endured through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and cultural heritage rooted in the ancient Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Daine over time
The chart below shows babies named Daine registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Daine, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2004, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Daine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Daine 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 | #2759 | 22 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Daine
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Daine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Daine in the UK right now?
In 2004, Daine was ranked #3009 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Daine most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 8 babies registered as Daine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Daine?
A nature-inspired name of Celtic origin meaning "crown of brightness".
How many people are called Daine in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Daine across the 6 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.