UK boy's name
Gulliver
One who admires or studies gulls, a type of seabird.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gulliver is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gulliver popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 10 births.
This profile covers 55 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 55 living people in the UK are called Gulliver. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gulliver ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 10 boys were registered as Gulliver.
- • About 55 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gulliver as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
10 births
Estimated living
55
2026
Meaning
What does Gulliver mean?
The given name Gulliver originated from the satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels" published in 1726 by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift. The name itself is not derived from any particular language or culture, but rather was invented by Swift as the name of the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, in his famous work.
The character of Gulliver is a fictional Englishman who travels to various fantastical lands inhabited by strange and fanciful beings. The novel is a biting satire that critiques human nature, society, and the political and social climate of Swift's time. Through Gulliver's adventures, Swift exposes the follies and vices of mankind, making the book a classic of English literature.
While the name Gulliver was not recorded prior to Swift's novel, it quickly gained popularity and recognition due to the immense success of "Gulliver's Travels." Some notable individuals who have borne the name Gulliver include:
1. Gulliver McGrath (born 1945), an American actor and playwright. 2. Gulliver Drayton (1609-1668), an English Puritan minister and early settler of New Haven Colony. 3. Gulliver Curry (born 1993), an Australian professional basketball player. 4. Gulliver Rop (born 1986), a Kenyan long-distance runner and Olympic medalist. 5. Gulliver Belshaw (born 1989), an English singer-songwriter and musician.
The name Gulliver, though fictional in origin, has become a part of the cultural lexicon, often evoking associations with travel, adventure, and the exploration of new worlds. Its connection to Swift's timeless satire has ensured its enduring place in the annals of literary history and its continued use as a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gulliver over time
The chart below shows babies named Gulliver registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gulliver, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gulliver by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gulliver 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3807 | 25 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3711 | 21 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2903 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Gulliver
- 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
Gulliver: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gulliver in the UK right now?
In 2020, Gulliver was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gulliver most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 10 babies registered as Gulliver in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gulliver?
One who admires or studies gulls, a type of seabird.
How many people are called Gulliver in the UK?
A total of 55 babies have been registered as Gulliver across the 14 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.