UK name, mostly boys
Fortune
Derived from the Latin word fortuna, symbolizing luck, chance, or prosperity.
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 15 girls.
Fortune is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Fortune 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 2007, with 9 births.
This profile covers 54 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2002 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Fortune. 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
- • Fortune ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 9 boys were registered as Fortune.
- • Fortune is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fortune as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 78.3% of Fortune registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
9 births
Estimated living
54
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Fortune
In England and Wales birth records, Fortune has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 78.3% of registrations are for boys and 21.7% 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.
Fortune registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (9 births)
Fortune registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Fortune mean?
The name Fortune is derived from the Latin word "fortuna," which means luck or chance. This name has its roots in ancient Roman mythology, where Fortuna was the goddess of luck and fortune. She was often depicted with a cornucopia, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
The earliest recorded use of the name Fortune dates back to the late 16th century in England. It was initially used as a surname, but over time, it transitioned into a given name. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Fortune Harebread, an English landowner who lived in the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the name Fortune gained popularity among English Puritans. They believed that the name symbolized their belief in divine providence and the idea that one's fortune was determined by God's will. One notable figure from this period was Fortune Redrife, a Puritan minister born in 1609 in Wiltshire, England.
During the 18th century, the name Fortune spread to the American colonies. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Fortune Stoddard, a prominent lawyer and judge from Connecticut, born in 1700.
In the 19th century, the name Fortune became more widespread, particularly in the United States. One notable figure was Fortune Handley, a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War, born in 1834 in Ohio.
The 20th century saw the name Fortune being used across various cultures and regions. One notable bearer was Fortune Gordien, a Haitian writer and poet born in 1925, whose works explored themes of social justice and cultural identity.
Throughout its history, the name Fortune has been associated with themes of luck, prosperity, and divine intervention. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, it has retained a certain charm and uniqueness, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fortune over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Fortune in England and Wales, from 2002 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 Fortune, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fortune by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fortune 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3633 | 19 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2914 | 32 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Fortune
- Freddie 46,945
- Finley 42,410
- Frederick 19,866
- Finlay 17,879
- Frankie 17,528
- Finn 14,413
- Felix 14,361
- Fraser 6,470
- Flynn 6,170
- Frank 5,992
- Filip 5,876
- Francis 5,744
FAQ
Fortune: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fortune in the UK right now?
In 2024, Fortune was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Fortune most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 9 babies registered as Fortune in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fortune?
Derived from the Latin word fortuna, symbolizing luck, chance, or prosperity.
How many people are called Fortune in the UK?
A total of 54 babies have been registered as Fortune across the 11 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.