UK boy's name
Eze
A masculine name likely of West African origin meaning "prince" or "king".
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.
Eze is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Eze popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2263, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 10 births.
This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2020 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.
Eze is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Eze. 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
- • Eze ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 10 boys were registered as Eze.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eze as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2263
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
2024
10 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Meaning
What does Eze mean?
The name Eze has its origins in the Igbo language of southeastern Nigeria. It is a shortened version of the name Ezekiel, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yeḥezqel, meaning "God will strengthen." The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, with a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries.
Eze is believed to have been in use as a given name among the Igbo people since at least the 16th century, during the height of the Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in West Africa. The name may have been influenced by the spread of Christianity and the Bible in the region during this time.
In Igbo culture, the name Eze is often associated with strength, resilience, and divine protection. It is a name that is frequently given to boys with the hope that they will grow to be strong leaders and pillars of their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eze can be found in the writings of the 16th-century Portuguese explorer Duarte Lopes, who documented his encounters with the Igbo people during his travels in West Africa.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Eze. One such figure is Eze Nri Oba (c. 1550-1610), who was a prominent ruler of the Nri Kingdom during the late 16th century. Another notable bearer of the name is Eze Nwokolo (1852-1924), a renowned Igbo trader and businessman who played a significant role in the economic development of southeastern Nigeria in the early 20th century.
Other historical figures with the name Eze include Eze Nri Apia (c. 1700-1770), a respected leader and spiritual figure in the Nri Kingdom; Eze Nri Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-1797), a former slave who became a prominent author and abolitionist; and Eze Nri Akanu Ibiam (1900-1995), a Nigerian statesman and one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria.
The name Eze continues to be a popular choice among the Igbo people and has also gained recognition in other parts of Nigeria and beyond. Its rich cultural heritage and associations with strength and leadership ensure that it will remain a significant name in the region for generations to come.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Eze over time
The chart below shows babies named Eze registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 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 Eze, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eze by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eze 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 | #3416 | 24 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Eze
- 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
Eze: questions and answers
How popular is the name Eze in the UK right now?
In 2024, Eze was ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Eze most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 10 babies registered as Eze in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Eze?
A masculine name likely of West African origin meaning "prince" or "king".
How many people are called Eze in the UK?
A total of 24 babies have been registered as Eze across the 4 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.