NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ebon

A masculine name derived from ebony, meaning "dark" or "black".

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.

Ebon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ebon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 6 births.

This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2008 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Ebon. 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

  • Ebon ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 6 boys were registered as Ebon.
  • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ebon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

6 births

Estimated living

32

2026

Meaning

What does Ebon mean?

The name Ebon is derived from the Old English word "eban," which means "ebony" or "dark colored." This name has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon culture of England, dating back to the 5th to 11th centuries AD. The name was likely inspired by the dark, rich color of ebony wood, which was highly prized and imported from India and Africa during that time.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ebon can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an important historical record that covers the period from the Roman conquest of Britain to the 12th century. The name appears in the entry for the year 1066, which describes the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ebon. In the 12th century, Ebon of Auxerre was a French philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the study of medieval logic and philosophy. Another prominent figure was Ebon de Montreuil, a 13th-century French architect and master mason who designed several Gothic cathedrals, including the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

In the realm of literature, Ebon Venton was an English poet and playwright who lived during the 16th century. His most notable work, "The Tragical History of Sir John van Olden Barnavelt," was a popular play in its time and helped establish his reputation as a skilled dramatist.

In the 18th century, Ebon Hawkins was a renowned English physician and anatomist. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine, particularly in the study of the human skeleton and musculature. His work, "A Treatise on the Anatomy of the Human Body," published in 1746, was widely influential and used as a reference by many medical students of that era.

Another notable figure was Ebon Petterson, a Norwegian explorer and navigator who lived in the 19th century. He was known for his daring expeditions to the Arctic regions and his detailed maps and charts, which greatly improved the understanding of these remote areas at the time.

While the name Ebon may not be as common today, its rich history and meaning rooted in the Anglo-Saxon culture and the ebony wood trade make it a unique and intriguing name with a strong connection to the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ebon over time

The chart below shows babies named Ebon registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Ebon, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ebon
02356200820162024

Decades

Ebon by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ebon 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 #5119 3 1
2010s #3765 22 5
2000s #4088 7 2

Related

Names similar to Ebon

FAQ

Ebon: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Ebon was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ebon most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 6 babies registered as Ebon in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ebon?

A masculine name derived from ebony, meaning "dark" or "black".

How many people are called Ebon in the UK?

A total of 32 babies have been registered as Ebon across the 8 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.