UK name, mostly girls
Glory
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "high renown" or "magnificence".
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 boys' name in the UK, with 65 boys.
Glory is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Glory popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 17 births.
This profile covers 232 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 82% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 234 living people in the UK are called Glory. 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
- • Glory ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 17 girls were registered as Glory.
- • Glory ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #815 in 2012.
- • Glory is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 234 living people in the UK are estimated to have Glory as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 78.1% of Glory registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2000
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2012
17 births
Estimated living
234
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Glory
In England and Wales birth records, Glory has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 21.9% of registrations are for boys and 78.1% 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.
Glory registered for boys
- Ranked #4,991 in 2023
- 3 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2001 (7 births)
Glory registered for girls
- Ranked #2,000 in 2024
- 14 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2012 (17 births)
Meaning
What does Glory mean?
The name Glory is derived from the Latin word "gloria," meaning splendor, magnificence, or renown. It is a name that has been used across various cultures and time periods to express admiration, praise, and reverence.
In ancient Rome, the concept of "gloria" was closely tied to military achievements and public recognition. Roman generals and leaders who achieved great victories would often be celebrated with triumphal processions and awarded the honor of "gloria" for their accomplishments. This name was also used to refer to the divine radiance or majesty associated with the Roman gods and goddesses.
The name Glory gained religious significance with the rise of Christianity. In the Bible, the word "glory" is used to describe the divine presence and majesty of God. The book of Psalms, for example, contains numerous references to "the glory of the Lord." This connection to divine splendor and reverence likely contributed to the popularity of the name among Christian communities.
One of the earliest recorded individuals named Glory was Glory Anne Clitherow (1556-1586), an English Catholic martyr who was executed for harboring priests during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was Glory van Bronckhorst (1550-1597), a Dutch noblewoman and mother of Rembrandt van Rijn, the famous Dutch painter.
In the 17th century, Glory Fletcher (1633-1653) was an English woman who gained notoriety for her involvement in the English Civil War. She fought alongside her husband and was celebrated for her bravery and devotion to the Parliamentarian cause.
During the American Revolutionary War, Glory McGilynn (1740-1817) was a patriot known for her involvement in the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781. She is remembered for her courage and determination in aiding the Continental Army during the conflict.
In the 19th century, Glory Grimké (1805-1879) was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Along with her sister, Sarah, she was a prominent figure in the anti-slavery movement and a vocal advocate for women's suffrage.
Throughout history, the name Glory has been associated with admiration, achievement, and divine reverence. While its usage has fluctuated over time, it remains a unique and evocative name that carries a sense of pride, honor, and distinction.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Glory over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Glory in England and Wales, from 1997 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 Glory, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Glory by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Glory 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 | #2478 | 52 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2622 | 99 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2819 | 73 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3158 | 8 | 2 |
Geography
Where Glory is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Glory. 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.
Glory ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #815 in 2012.
Across the UK
Glory in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#815 in 2012
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Glory
-
Glory Samjolly
British artist
1997-
Related
Names similar to Glory
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Glory: questions and answers
How popular is the name Glory in the UK right now?
In 2024, Glory was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Glory most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 17 babies registered as Glory in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Glory?
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "high renown" or "magnificence".
How many people are called Glory in the UK?
A total of 232 babies have been registered as Glory across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Glory most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Glory ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #815 in 2012. 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.