NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Fabien

French masculine name derived from the Roman surname Fabianus, meaning "bean grower".

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.

Fabien is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Fabien 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 2001, with 18 births.

This profile covers 283 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 281 living people in the UK are called Fabien. 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

  • Fabien ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 18 boys were registered as Fabien.
  • About 281 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fabien 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

2001

18 births

Estimated living

281

2026

Meaning

What does Fabien mean?

The given name Fabien finds its origins in the Latin language, specifically derived from the ancient Roman name "Fabianus." This name is believed to have emerged during the early centuries of the Roman Empire, around the 1st or 2nd century AD. Fabianus was a Roman family name (nomen) that originated from the Latin word "faba," meaning "bean."

Fabianus was a relatively common name among the Romans, and it is mentioned in various historical records and inscriptions from that era. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Saint Fabian, who served as the Pope of the Catholic Church from 236 to 250 AD. He is revered as a martyr and saint in Christianity.

In the Middle Ages, the name Fabien gained popularity across Europe, particularly in France, where it evolved into its French form, "Fabien." During this period, it was borne by several notable figures, including Fabien Quartier (1537-1614), a French Jesuit scholar and theologian.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it was also adopted in other languages and cultures. In Italy, it took the form of "Fabio," while in Spain and Portugal, it became "Fabián." One of the most famous individuals named Fabien was Fabien Barthez (born 1971), a French former professional footballer and World Cup winner.

Other notable individuals with the name Fabien include Fabien Roussel (born 1969), a French politician and the current leader of the French Communist Party; Fabien Clain (1978-2019), a French jihadist and member of the Islamic State; and Fabien Galthié (born 1969), a former French rugby union player and the current head coach of the French national rugby team.

Throughout history, the name Fabien has maintained a strong presence in various cultures, particularly in Europe. Its Latin roots and associations with ancient Roman history have contributed to its enduring appeal and usage over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Fabien over time

The chart below shows babies named Fabien 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 Fabien, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Fabien
0591418199620102024

Decades

Fabien by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fabien 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 #3599 17 3
2010s #2371 84 9
2000s #1242 156 10
1990s #1876 26 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Fabien

  • Fabien Frankel

    actor; television actor; film actor

    English actor

    1994-

Related

Names similar to Fabien

FAQ

Fabien: questions and answers

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

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

When was Fabien most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 18 babies registered as Fabien in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Fabien?

French masculine name derived from the Roman surname Fabianus, meaning "bean grower".

How many people are called Fabien in the UK?

A total of 283 babies have been registered as Fabien across the 26 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.