UK boy's name
Goshen
A name of Hebrew origin referring to a fertile area.
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.
Goshen is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Goshen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2023 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.
Goshen is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Goshen. 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
- • Goshen ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 4 boys were registered as Goshen.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Goshen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2024
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Goshen mean?
The name Goshen originates from the Hebrew language and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "goshen," which means "drawing near" or "approaching." The name has a close association with the biblical land of Goshen, a fertile region in ancient Egypt where the Israelites settled during their stay in the country.
In the Bible, the Book of Genesis mentions Goshen as the land allocated to the Israelites by the Pharaoh to dwell and graze their flocks. This region was said to be suitable for their livelihood as shepherds. The name Goshen thus holds a significant place in the biblical narrative and the history of the Israelites.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Goshen can be found in the Old Testament, where it refers to the land granted to the Israelites in Egypt. However, the name's usage as a personal name is not well-documented in ancient texts.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Goshen. One of the earliest recorded examples is Goshen Given (1635-1688), an English Quaker and preacher who was known for his religious writings and sermons.
Another notable figure was Goshen Badger (1828-1888), an American politician and lawyer from Ohio. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1865 to 1867.
In more recent times, Goshen Littleton (1899-1975) was an American football player and coach. He played as a halfback for the University of Michigan and later coached at several colleges, including Western Reserve University and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Goshen Hostetler (1918-2007) was an American businessman and philanthropist from Ohio. He co-founded the manufacturing company Hostetler Furnace and helped establish the Hostetler Museum of Indian Artifacts.
Another notable figure was Goshen Faraday (1924-2001), a British scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering. He was awarded the prestigious Faraday Medal in 1982 for his work on power generation and distribution systems.
While the name Goshen has biblical origins and historical references, its usage as a personal name has been relatively uncommon throughout history. However, it has been borne by a few individuals who left their mark in various fields, ranging from religion and politics to sports and science.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Goshen over time
The chart below shows babies named Goshen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2023 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 Goshen, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Goshen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Goshen 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 | #4631 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Goshen
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Goshen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Goshen in the UK right now?
In 2024, Goshen was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Goshen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 4 babies registered as Goshen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Goshen?
A name of Hebrew origin referring to a fertile area.
How many people are called Goshen in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Goshen across the 2 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.