NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Ho

A diminutive masculine name of Vietnamese origin meaning "fire".

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.

Ho is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Ho popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 14 births.

This profile covers 86 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 88 living people in the UK are called Ho. 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

  • Ho ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 14 boys were registered as Ho.
  • Ho ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #337 in 1988.
  • About 88 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ho as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 92.5% of Ho registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

14 births

Estimated living

88

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Ho

In England and Wales birth records, Ho has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 92.5% of registrations are for boys and 7.5% 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.

92% boys
Boys86 (92.5%)Girls7 (7.5%)

Ho registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 1996 (14 births)

Ho registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,598 in 2004
  • 3 girls registered in 2004
  • Peak: 1997 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Ho mean?

The name Ho has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. It is a Chinese surname that means "river" or "brook" when written with the character 河. However, as a given name, its meaning and origins are quite diverse.

In Vietnamese culture, Ho is a unisex name derived from the Sino-Vietnamese word "hồ," meaning "lake" or "pond." It is a popular name in Vietnam and is often given to children born near a body of water.

In Ancient Greek, the name Ho is related to the word "holos," meaning "whole" or "complete." It was sometimes used as a nickname or shortened form of longer names like Horace or Horatio.

In Japanese culture, Ho is a name derived from the word "ho," meaning "Phoenix" or "the bird of fire." It is often associated with strength, rebirth, and renewal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ho can be found in the Analects of Confucius, a collection of sayings and teachings from the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BC). In this text, there is a reference to a person named Ho Yen, who was a disciple of Confucius.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Ho. One of the most famous is Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), the Vietnamese revolutionary leader who played a crucial role in the struggle for independence from French colonial rule and later became the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Another significant figure is Ho Hsien-ku (659-768), a Chinese poet and scholar from the Tang Dynasty who was known for her exceptional calligraphy skills and her contributions to the development of the regulated verse form known as the lu-shih.

In the realm of sports, Ho Pragash (born 1989) is a prominent Indian cricketer who has represented his country in various international tournaments, including the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

In the field of science, Ho Feng-Shan (1901-1997) was a Chinese aeronautical engineer and professor who made significant contributions to the development of modern aviation in China.

Finally, Ho Kwon Ping (born 1952) is a Singaporean businessman and former chairman of the Singapore Power Group, known for his leadership in the energy industry and his philanthropic efforts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ho over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ho 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 Ho, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0471114199620102024

Decades

Ho by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ho 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 #4116 9 2
2010s #4373 17 5
2000s #2356 23 4
1990s #1445 37 4

Geography

Where Ho is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ho. 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.

Ho ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #337 in 1988.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Ho in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#337 in 1988

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Ho

FAQ

Ho: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ho in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ho was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ho most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 14 babies registered as Ho in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ho?

A diminutive masculine name of Vietnamese origin meaning "fire".

How many people are called Ho in the UK?

A total of 86 babies have been registered as Ho across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Ho most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Ho ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #337 in 1988. 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.