UK name, mostly girls
Grace
A feminine name of Latin origin, meaning divine favor or blessing.
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.
Grace is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Grace popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #25, with 1,390 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5,026 births.
This profile covers 79,208 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 89,313 living people in the UK are called Grace. 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
- • Grace ranked #25 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 1,390 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5,026 girls were registered as Grace.
- • Grace ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2024.
- • About 89,313 living people in the UK are estimated to have Grace as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 100.0% of Grace registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#25
2024
Births in 2024
1,390
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5,026 births
Estimated living
89,313
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Grace
In England and Wales birth records, Grace has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.0% of registrations are for boys and 100.0% 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.
Grace registered for boys
- Ranked #4,052 in 2006
- 3 boys registered in 2006
- Peak: 2006 (3 births)
Grace registered for girls
- Ranked #25 in 2024
- 1,390 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2006 (5,026 births)
Meaning
What does Grace mean?
The name Grace has its origins in the Latin word "gratia", meaning "favor" or "thanks". It was initially used as a virtue name, reflecting the concept of divine grace and the unmerited favor bestowed by God.
In ancient Rome, the name was associated with the Gratiae, the three goddesses of charm, beauty, and creativity in Roman mythology. They were often depicted as attendants to Venus, the goddess of love, and were revered for their ability to bestow grace and charm upon individuals.
The name Grace gained popularity during the Middle Ages as a Christian name, reflecting the theological concept of God's unmerited grace and favor towards humanity. It was often given to girls as a reminder of the importance of humility and gratitude for the divine blessings they received.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Grace can be found in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. Grace is mentioned as a virtue and a gift from God, further solidifying its association with Christian beliefs and values.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Grace. One of the earliest and most famous was Grace O'Malley (c. 1530-1603), an Irish pirate queen known for her bravery and leadership skills. Another prominent figure was Grace Darling (1815-1842), a British heroine celebrated for her courage in rescuing survivors from a shipwreck off the coast of Northumberland.
In the world of literature, Grace Metalious (1924-1964) was an American author best known for her controversial novel "Peyton Place", which shed light on the darker aspects of small-town life in New England. Grace Kelly (1929-1982), an American actress and Princess of Monaco, was renowned for her elegance and style, and is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history.
Additionally, Grace Hopper (1906-1992) was a pioneering computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral. She was instrumental in developing the first compiler for a computer programming language and is celebrated for her contributions to the field of computer science.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Grace, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Grace over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Grace in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Grace, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 1,390 births in 2024, compared with 5,026 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Grace by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Grace 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 | #17 | 8,608 | 5 |
| 2010s | #12 | 28,281 | 10 |
| 2000s | #11 | 36,009 | 10 |
| 1990s | #37 | 6,310 | 4 |
Geography
Where Grace is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Grace. 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.
Grace ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2024.
Across the UK
Grace in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#13 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 6,111 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#1 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 4,478 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Grace
-
Grace Wales Bonner
fashion designer
British fashion designer
1992-
-
Grace Woodward
television presenter; wardrobe stylist
English fashion stylist
1978-
-
Grace Wood
swimmer
British swimmer
1932-
-
Grace Wyndham Goldie
television producer
BBC Executive (1900-1986)
1900-1986
-
Grace Wilson Melvin
painter
scottish-Canadian artist, teacher, and academic professional
1892-1977
-
Grace Wynne Griffith
novelist
Welsh novelist
1888-1963
-
Grace Woodhead
philanthropist
philanthropist and mental health reformer
1864-1936
-
Grace Harriet Warrack
artist
Scottish watercolour artist and translator
1855-1932
Related
Names similar to Grace
- 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
- Gloria 1,279
FAQ
Grace: questions and answers
How popular is the name Grace in the UK right now?
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 for girls in England and Wales, with 1,390 births registered.
When was Grace most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5,026 babies registered as Grace in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Grace?
A feminine name of Latin origin, meaning divine favor or blessing.
How many people are called Grace in the UK?
A total of 79,208 babies have been registered as Grace across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6,111 more in Scotland and 4,478 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Grace most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Grace ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #1 in 2024. 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.