NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Eben

A Hebrew name meaning "stone" or "solid rock".

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.

Eben is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Eben popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 67 births.

This profile covers 738 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 761 living people in the UK are called Eben. 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

  • Eben ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 67 boys were registered as Eben.
  • Eben ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #416 in 2018.
  • About 761 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eben as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1758

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2013

67 births

Estimated living

761

2026

Meaning

What does Eben mean?

The name Eben has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "eben," which translates to "stone" or "rock." This name holds a strong symbolic meaning, often associated with strength, durability, and resilience.

In the Old Testament, the word "eben" appears numerous times, particularly in reference to the stones used in the construction of sacred structures, such as altars and temples. One notable example is the "Eben Shetiyah," the stone of foundation, which was believed to be the cornerstone upon which the world was built.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Eben can be traced back to ancient Hebrew texts and historical records. However, it is important to note that the name was not widely used as a personal name until much later in history.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Eben was Eben Ezra, a renowned Jewish philosopher, poet, and biblical commentator who lived in the 12th century (1092-1167). His works had a profound impact on Jewish thought and literature during the Middle Ages.

Another notable figure with the name Eben was Eben Budge, an English Egyptologist and writer who lived from 1857 to 1934. He is best known for his translations of ancient Egyptian texts and his contributions to the study of Egyptian archaeology.

In the 17th century, Eben Ezer was a prominent Dutch Sephardic rabbi and author who lived from 1633 to 1686. His works on Jewish law and traditions were highly influential in his time and continue to be studied today.

Eben Jenks Loomis, an American astronomer and mathematician, was born in 1828 and lived until 1900. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including the discovery of several comets and the calculation of planetary orbits.

Eben Byers, an American soldier and politician, lived from 1784 to 1857. He served in the War of 1812 and later became a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio.

Throughout history, the name Eben has been associated with individuals who have made notable contributions to various fields, such as philosophy, religion, science, and politics. While its usage as a personal name may have fluctuated over time, the name's origins and symbolic meaning continue to resonate with many.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Eben over time

The chart below shows babies named Eben 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 Eben, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 67 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Eben
017345067199620102024

Decades

Eben by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eben 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 #1232 118 5
2010s #860 376 10
2000s #1122 199 10
1990s #1200 45 4

Geography

Where Eben is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Eben. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Eben ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #416 in 2018.

Scotland
6
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Eben in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#472 in 2022

6 years of NRS records, 22 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#416 in 2018

2 years of NISRA records, 6 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Eben

  • Eben Upton

    businessperson; computer scientist; software developer; manager

    British computer scientist

    1978-

  • Eben Hamilton

    barrister

    British QC

    1937-2021

  • Eben Figueiredo

    actor; singer-songwriter

    British actor

Related

Names similar to Eben

FAQ

Eben: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Eben was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Eben most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 67 babies registered as Eben in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Eben?

A Hebrew name meaning "stone" or "solid rock".

How many people are called Eben in the UK?

A total of 738 babies have been registered as Eben across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 22 more in Scotland and 6 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Eben most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Eben ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #416 in 2018. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.