UK girl's name
Fae
A feminine name derived from the English word for "fairy".
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.
Fae is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fae popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 19 births.
This profile covers 298 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 305 living people in the UK are called Fae. 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
- • Fae ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 19 girls were registered as Fae.
- • Fae ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #407 in 2024.
- • About 305 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fae as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2005
19 births
Estimated living
305
2026
Meaning
What does Fae mean?
The name Fae has its roots in the Old English word "fæger," which means "beautiful" or "fair." This term was often used to describe the ethereal and enchanting nature of fairies or supernatural beings. The name's origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century in what is now England.
Fae is closely associated with the realm of fairies and folklore in British and Celtic traditions. In medieval literature and poetry, the term "fae" or "fey" was frequently used to refer to fairies, elves, and other mythical creatures. The name evokes a sense of mysticism, enchantment, and a connection to the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Fae can be found in the 14th-century Middle English romance poem "Sir Orfeo." In this work, the character of Fae is depicted as a fairy queen who rules over the kingdom of the fairies.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Fae. Fae Ellington (1914-1965) was an American jazz singer and bandleader who performed with her husband, Duke Ellington. Fae Desmond (1876-1965) was an American actress and singer who appeared on Broadway and in early films.
In the literary realm, Fae Myenne Ng (born 1957) is a Chinese-American author known for her novel "Bone." Fae Moyer (1856-1919) was a Canadian artist and painter who was part of the Impressionist movement in Canada.
Another notable figure was Fae Doubleday (1879-1962), an American artist and illustrator who created designs for books, magazines, and advertisements in the early 20th century.
While the name Fae is not as common as some other names, it has maintained a presence throughout history, evoking a sense of beauty, enchantment, and connection to the natural world. Its origins in Old English and its association with fairies and folklore have contributed to its enduring charm and mystique.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fae over time
The chart below shows babies named Fae 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 Fae, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fae by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fae 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 | #2413 | 53 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2518 | 102 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2005 | 109 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1949 | 34 | 4 |
Geography
Where Fae is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Fae. 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.
Fae ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #407 in 2024.
Across the UK
Fae in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#407 in 2024
3 years of NISRA records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Fae
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Fae: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fae in the UK right now?
In 2024, Fae was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Fae most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 19 babies registered as Fae in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fae?
A feminine name derived from the English word for "fairy".
How many people are called Fae in the UK?
A total of 298 babies have been registered as Fae across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 9 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Fae most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Fae ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #407 in 2024. 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.