UK girl's name
Deja
A French word meaning "already" or "experienced before".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Deja is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Deja popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 14 births.
This profile covers 143 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 142 living people in the UK are called Deja. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Deja ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 14 girls were registered as Deja.
- • About 142 living people in the UK are estimated to have Deja as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2001
14 births
Estimated living
142
2026
Meaning
What does Deja mean?
The name Deja is a modern French name that has become popular in recent decades. It is believed to have originated from the French phrase "déjà vu," which means "already seen." The phrase itself entered the French language in the 19th century, but the use of Deja as a given name did not become widespread until the late 20th century.
While the name Deja does not have a long historical lineage, it has been used by a few notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deja was Deja Thoris, a fictional character from the Barsoom series of science fiction novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which were published in the early 20th century. Deja Thoris was a Martian princess and the love interest of the protagonist, John Carter.
Another notable individual named Deja was Deja Vega, an American singer and actress who was born in 1974. She is best known for her role as Maria in the musical drama series "Cane" and for her work in various Broadway productions.
In the world of sports, Deja Frease (born 1989) is an American former basketball player who played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes and had a brief professional career in the WNBA.
Deja Skye (born 1983) is an American model and adult film actress who has appeared in numerous adult films and men's magazines throughout her career.
Lastly, Deja Shelton (born 1998) is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE, where she performs under the ring name Naomi.
While the name Deja is a relatively modern invention, it has gained popularity in recent years and has been adopted by individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. Despite its lack of a deep historical lineage, it has certainly made its mark in popular culture and will likely continue to be used as a given name in the years to come.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Deja over time
The chart below shows babies named Deja registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Deja, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Deja by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Deja 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 | #4572 | 22 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4935 | 28 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2563 | 73 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2656 | 20 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Deja
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Deja: questions and answers
How popular is the name Deja in the UK right now?
In 2024, Deja was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Deja most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 14 babies registered as Deja in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Deja?
A French word meaning "already" or "experienced before".
How many people are called Deja in the UK?
A total of 143 babies have been registered as Deja across the 23 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.