UK girl's name
Ece
A feminine Turkish name meaning "morning star" or "brilliant.".
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.
Ece is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ece popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 13 births.
This profile covers 121 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1997 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 120 living people in the UK are called Ece. 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
- • Ece ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 13 girls were registered as Ece.
- • About 120 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ece as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2001
13 births
Estimated living
120
2026
Meaning
What does Ece mean?
The name Ece originates from the Turkish language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient Anatolian civilizations. It is derived from the Old Turkish word "ece," meaning "moon" or "star." This celestial connection reflects the reverence for nature and the cosmos in early Turkish beliefs.
In the early Ottoman period, the name Ece gained popularity among the Turkish nobility and ruling classes. It was often bestowed upon daughters born under auspicious lunar phases or during significant celestial events. The name carried connotations of beauty, grace, and radiance, much like the moon's gentle glow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ece can be found in the 14th-century Ottoman court chronicles, where it was mentioned as the name of a princess from the Seljuk dynasty. This princess, born in 1325, was renowned for her intelligence and diplomatic skills, serving as an influential figure in the imperial court.
Throughout the centuries, the name Ece has been carried by notable individuals in various fields. One such figure was Ece Ayhan, a celebrated Turkish poet and novelist born in 1923. Her poetic works explored themes of love, identity, and societal critique, earning her a revered place in Turkish literature.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Ece Temelkuran, a Turkish journalist and author born in 1973. Known for her fearless commentary on political and social issues, she has gained international recognition for her books and advocacy for freedom of expression.
In the realm of sports, Ece Varol, a Turkish swimmer born in 1995, has made her mark on the international stage. She has represented Turkey in multiple Olympic Games and won numerous medals at various competitions, becoming a source of national pride.
The name Ece has also transcended borders, with notable figures bearing it in different cultures. Ece Ayhan, a Kurdish-Turkish singer and songwriter born in 1981, has garnered acclaim for her fusion of traditional Kurdish music with contemporary styles.
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse representation of the name Ece, which has carried meanings of celestial beauty, grace, and achievement across generations and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ece over time
The chart below shows babies named Ece registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Ece, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ece by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ece 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 | #4413 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4619 | 40 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3107 | 63 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3857 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ece
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Ece: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ece in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ece was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Ece most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 13 babies registered as Ece in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ece?
A feminine Turkish name meaning "morning star" or "brilliant.".
How many people are called Ece in the UK?
A total of 121 babies have been registered as Ece across the 24 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.