NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Gipsy

A variant of "Gypsy", meaning an itinerant or free-spirited person.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Gipsy is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gipsy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3998, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2001 to 2001. 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.

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

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Gipsy. 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 2002 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Gipsy ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 girls were registered as Gipsy.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gipsy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3998

2001

Births in 2001

3

Latest year

Peak year

2001

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Gipsy mean?

The name Gipsy is derived from the term "Gypsy," which refers to the Roma people, an ethnic group with roots in the Indian subcontinent. The Roma migrated to Europe in the Middle Ages, arriving in the Byzantine Empire around the 14th century.

The etymology of the word "Gypsy" is believed to stem from the Greek word "Athinganos," meaning an "untouchable person." Over time, this term evolved into various forms, such as "Gitano" in Spanish and "Gypsy" in English. The name Gipsy is an anglicized variation of the term.

While the name Gipsy has its origins in the Roma culture, it has been used as a given name by non-Roma individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Gipsy Petvarre, an English actress and dancer who lived in the 17th century (1628-1663).

In the 18th century, Gipsy Gonzales (1706-1789) was a renowned Spanish-born painter and engraver known for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural scenes. Another notable figure from this era was Gipsy Davy, a Scottish traveler and writer whose real name was David Hume (1761-1839).

In the 19th century, Gipsy Smith (1860-1947) was a famous English evangelist and preacher who traveled extensively, spreading the gospel through his powerful sermons. He was born Rodney Smith but earned the nickname "Gipsy" due to his association with the Roma people.

Gipsy Percival (1867-1952) was an Australian author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories, many of which depicted the lives of the Roma people and the Australian outback.

In the 20th century, Gipsy Rose Lee (1911-1970) was an American burlesque entertainer and stripper who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s. Her real name was Rose Louise Hovick, but she adopted the stage name "Gipsy Rose Lee" to evoke a sense of mystery and exoticism.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Gipsy, a name that reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Roma people and their journey across the continents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Gipsy by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gipsy 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
2000s #3998 3 1

Related

Names similar to Gipsy

FAQ

Gipsy: questions and answers

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

In 2001, Gipsy was ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gipsy most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Gipsy in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gipsy?

A variant of "Gypsy", meaning an itinerant or free-spirited person.

How many people are called Gipsy in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Gipsy 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.