NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Favor

A feminine name derived from the Latin word meaning goodwill or kindness.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Favor is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Favor popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. 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.

Favor is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Favor. 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 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Favor ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 girls were registered as Favor.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Favor as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4764

2011

Births in 2011

4

Latest year

Peak year

2011

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Favor mean?

The name Favor is derived from the Latin word "favor," which means "kindness" or "goodwill." It has its roots in ancient Roman culture, where the concept of favor was closely tied to the gods and their perceived benevolence towards mortals.

In the early days of Christianity, the name Favor gained popularity as a symbolic representation of divine grace and favor bestowed upon believers. It was often used as a name for children, expressing the hope that they would receive God's blessings and protection throughout their lives.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Favor can be found in the Codex Theodosianus, a compilation of Roman laws dating back to the 5th century AD. In this text, a certain Flavius Favor is mentioned as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

During the Middle Ages, the name Favor was relatively uncommon, but it did appear in various historical records and chronicles. One notable individual bearing this name was Favor de Valois, a French nobleman who lived in the 13th century and served as a knight in the court of King Louis IX.

As the Renaissance period dawned, the name Favor experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the wealthy and educated classes. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Favor Delano, an Italian Renaissance poet and scholar born in 1490. His works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the divine order, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the Puritan movement in England and America led to a renewed interest in biblical names, including Favor. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the New World was Favor Ingraham, a Puritan settler who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638.

Another notable figure in history who bore the name Favor was Favor Mills, an English clergyman and author born in 1625. He wrote extensively on theological subjects and was known for his strong defense of Protestantism during the tumultuous religious conflicts of the time.

As the centuries passed, the name Favor remained relatively uncommon, but it continued to be bestowed upon individuals in various parts of the world. One famous bearer of the name was Favor Keenan, an Irish-American actress born in 1890, who achieved success on the Broadway stage in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Favor by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Favor 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
2010s #4764 4 1

Related

Names similar to Favor

FAQ

Favor: questions and answers

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

In 2011, Favor was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Favor most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Favor in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Favor?

A feminine name derived from the Latin word meaning goodwill or kindness.

How many people are called Favor in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Favor across the 1 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.