UK boy's name
Frey
A masculine name of Old Norse origin meaning "Lord" or "Ruler".
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.
Frey is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Frey popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 12 births.
This profile covers 96 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2001 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 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 95 living people in the UK are called Frey. 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
- • Frey ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 12 boys were registered as Frey.
- • About 95 living people in the UK are estimated to have Frey as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2020
12 births
Estimated living
95
2026
Meaning
What does Frey mean?
The name Frey has its origins in Old Norse and Germanic mythology, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old Norse word "frejr," which means "lord" or "master." The name was associated with the god Freyr, one of the most revered deities in Norse mythology, who was the god of fertility, peace, and prosperity.
In Norse mythology, Freyr was the son of the god Njord and the twin brother of the goddess Freyja. He was often depicted as a virile and handsome young man, with a large phallus symbolizing his connection to fertility. The worship of Freyr was widespread across Scandinavia and Germanic regions, particularly among farmers and those who depended on agricultural prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Frey can be found in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems dating back to the 13th century. The name is mentioned in several verses, including in the poem "Grímnismál," where Freyr is described as one of the most powerful and respected gods.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Frey. In the 16th century, Frey Jónsson (1534-1624) was an Icelandic Lutheran bishop and scholar who played a significant role in the translation of the Bible into Icelandic. Another famous bearer of the name was Frey García de Cabrera (c. 1290-1327), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who fought against the Moors during the Reconquista.
In the realm of literature, Frey Lenz (1876-1944) was a German author and playwright known for his novels and plays depicting rural life in Germany. In the field of art, Frey Hartmann (1591-1670) was a Swiss painter and engraver famous for his religious and allegorical works.
During the 20th century, Frey von Blon (1888-1952) was a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction of Berlin after World War II. He was known for his innovative approach to city planning and his efforts to create livable and sustainable urban environments.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Frey. The name has continued to be used across various cultures and regions, carrying with it the rich heritage and symbolism of its Norse and Germanic origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Frey over time
The chart below shows babies named Frey registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Frey, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Frey by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Frey 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 | #3097 | 36 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3650 | 40 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3057 | 20 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Frey
- 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
Frey: questions and answers
How popular is the name Frey in the UK right now?
In 2024, Frey was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Frey most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 12 babies registered as Frey in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Frey?
A masculine name of Old Norse origin meaning "Lord" or "Ruler".
How many people are called Frey in the UK?
A total of 96 babies have been registered as Frey across the 17 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.