UK boy's name
Heston
From an English surname meaning "settlement on the hill" or "homestead" of Old English origin.
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.
Heston is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Heston 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 2009, with 21 births.
This profile covers 180 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2006 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.
The latest count is about 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 179 living people in the UK are called Heston. 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
- • Heston ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 21 boys were registered as Heston.
- • About 179 living people in the UK are estimated to have Heston 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
2009
21 births
Estimated living
179
2026
Meaning
What does Heston mean?
The name Heston is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hæst" meaning "highest" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement." It was originally a place name referring to a town or village located on higher ground or a hilltop.
In the Middle Ages, the name Heston was used as a surname for people who lived in or came from the town of Heston in Middlesex, England. The earliest recorded use of the name as a given name dates back to the 16th century.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Heston was Heston Napier, an English politician who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a Member of Parliament for Berkshire in 1597 and 1601.
Another notable figure was Heston Browne, an English lawyer and politician who lived in the 17th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for Marlborough in 1640 and played a role in the events leading up to the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, Heston Humble was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and country houses in the Georgian style. He was active in the mid-1700s and designed buildings such as the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Heston was Heston Blumenthal, the acclaimed English chef and pioneer of multi-sensory cooking. He was born in 1966 and is known for his innovative and experimental approach to cuisine, combining scientific techniques with traditional cooking methods.
In the realm of literature, Heston Muarry was an American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1899 to 1961. He is best known for his works exploring the themes of identity, alienation, and the human condition, such as the novel "The Stranger's Path."
While the name Heston has its roots in England and was initially a place name, it has gained recognition as a given name in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its unique history and meaning have contributed to its enduring appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Heston over time
The chart below shows babies named Heston registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Heston, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Heston by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Heston 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 | #3388 | 23 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2016 | 115 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2238 | 42 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Heston
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Heston: questions and answers
How popular is the name Heston in the UK right now?
In 2024, Heston was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Heston most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 21 babies registered as Heston in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Heston?
From an English surname meaning "settlement on the hill" or "homestead" of Old English origin.
How many people are called Heston in the UK?
A total of 180 babies have been registered as Heston across the 18 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.