UK boy's name
Ebbe
A masculine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "the ebb of the tide".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ebbe is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ebbe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2018 to 2018. 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.
Ebbe is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Ebbe. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ebbe ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 boys were registered as Ebbe.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ebbe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Ebbe mean?
The name Ebbe is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Norse word "ebbi," which means "ebb tide." It is believed to have first appeared in the Viking Age, around the 8th to 11th centuries, when the Vikings were actively exploring and settling in various regions of Europe and beyond.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ebbe can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, which were written in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas chronicled the lives and adventures of notable Icelanders and Norse settlers, and the name Ebbe was mentioned in some of these texts.
In the medieval period, the name Ebbe was particularly prevalent in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden. It was often given to boys born near the sea or in coastal regions, as a nod to the maritime heritage of the Vikings and the ebb and flow of the tides.
One notable historical figure with the name Ebbe was Ebbe Skammelsen, a Danish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 13th century. He played a significant role in the Danish conquest of Estonia and was known for his bravery and strategic abilities.
Another famous bearer of the name was Ebbe Munck, a Danish admiral and naval hero who lived in the 17th century (1619-1688). He is celebrated for his victories against the Swedish navy during the Dano-Swedish War of 1658-1660.
In the 19th century, the name Ebbe gained popularity in Germany, particularly in northern regions with close ties to Scandinavia. One notable German with this name was Ebbe Stub Wittmack (1839-1910), a prominent botanist and agricultural scientist who made important contributions to the study of plant diseases and crop improvement.
The name Ebbe was also found in other parts of Europe, though less commonly. One example is Ebbe Parsner (1908-1969), a Swedish-born artist and sculptor who lived and worked in France for much of his life.
Throughout its history, the name Ebbe has been associated with the sea, coastal regions, and maritime traditions. Its Old Norse roots and appearance in ancient Scandinavian texts have contributed to its enduring cultural significance, particularly in northern Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Ebbe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ebbe 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 | #4749 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ebbe
- Ethan 77,394
- Edward 53,212
- Elliot 23,450
- Elijah 22,369
- Ellis 19,358
- Elliott 16,964
- Evan 14,535
- Ezra 11,838
- Ewan 10,685
- Eli 8,126
- Elias 7,049
- Eric 6,654
FAQ
Ebbe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ebbe in the UK right now?
In 2018, Ebbe was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ebbe most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Ebbe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ebbe?
A masculine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "the ebb of the tide".
How many people are called Ebbe in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Ebbe 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.