NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Faith

A feminine name of Latin origin signifying trust, belief, or confidence.

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.

Faith is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Faith popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #278, with 168 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 952 births.

This profile covers 14,325 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16,119 living people in the UK are called Faith. 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

  • Faith ranked #278 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 168 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 952 girls were registered as Faith.
  • Faith ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #97 in 2024.
  • About 16,119 living people in the UK are estimated to have Faith as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.9% of Faith registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#278

2024

Births in 2024

168

Latest year

Peak year

2006

952 births

Estimated living

16,119

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Faith

In England and Wales birth records, Faith has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.1% of registrations are for boys and 99.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

100% girls
Boys9 (0.1%)Girls14,325 (99.9%)

Faith registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,632 in 2014
  • 3 boys registered in 2014
  • Peak: 2005 (3 births)

Faith registered for girls

  • Ranked #278 in 2024
  • 168 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2006 (952 births)

Meaning

What does Faith mean?

The name Faith originates from the Latin word "fides" meaning trust, belief, or confidence. It stems from the root word "fid" which means to trust or have faith. The name first emerged in medieval Europe during the Middle Ages, around the 12th century.

Faith has its roots in Christianity and was initially a virtue name, representing one of the three theological virtues along with hope and charity. The name gained popularity among Christians who wanted to express their religious devotion and unwavering faith in God.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Faith can be found in the 16th century, when Faith Waldo, an English Protestant martyr, was burned at the stake in 1556 for her religious beliefs during the Marian Persecutions.

In the 17th century, Faith Robinson Trumbull (1718-1780) was a notable figure in colonial America, known for her role in establishing Yale College and her philanthropic efforts.

Faith Whittlesey (1939-2018) was an American diplomat and politician who served as the United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1981 to 1988.

Faith Ringgold (born 1930) is an influential American artist and author, best known for her narrative quilts that depict stories of African American life and history.

Faith Hubley (1924-2001) was an American animator, writer, and director, renowned for her independent and experimental animated films that explored social and political themes.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who carried the name Faith, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to religious beliefs, unwavering trust, and personal convictions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Faith over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Faith in England and Wales, 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 Faith, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 168 births in 2024, compared with 952 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0238476714952199620102024

Decades

Faith by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Faith 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 #213 1,198 5
2010s #100 6,266 10
2000s #98 6,338 10
1990s #284 523 4

Geography

Where Faith is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Faith. 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.

Faith ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #97 in 2024.

Northern Ireland
21
Scotland
18

Across the UK

Faith in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#207 in 2024

42 years of NRS records, 1,028 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#97 in 2024

28 years of NISRA records, 851 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Faith

  • Faith Akinbileje

    athletics competitor

    British sprinter

    2005-

  • Faith Wood-Blagrove

    film actor

    British film actress

    2004-

  • Faith Johnston

    association football player

    2002-

  • Faith Omole

    actor

    actress

    1992-

  • Faith Alabi

    actor

    actress

    1990-

  • Faith Child

    songwriter; rapper

    musician

    1989-

  • Faith Pitman

    judoka

    English judoka

    1985-

  • Faith Murray

    sport cyclist

    British cyclist

    1951-

Related

Names similar to Faith

FAQ

Faith: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Faith was ranked #278 for girls in England and Wales, with 168 births registered.

When was Faith most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 952 babies registered as Faith in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Faith?

A feminine name of Latin origin signifying trust, belief, or confidence.

How many people are called Faith in the UK?

A total of 14,325 babies have been registered as Faith across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 1,028 more in Scotland and 851 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Faith most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Faith ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #97 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.