NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Holy

Derived from a word meaning "sacred" or "consecrated.".

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.

Holy is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Holy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 13 births.

This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2005 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Holy. 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

  • Holy ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 13 girls were registered as Holy.
  • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Holy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.3% of Holy registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2008

13 births

Estimated living

56

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Holy

In England and Wales birth records, Holy has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 6.7% of registrations are for boys and 93.3% 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.

93% girls
Boys4 (6.7%)Girls56 (93.3%)

Holy registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,744 in 2009
  • 4 boys registered in 2009
  • Peak: 2009 (4 births)

Holy registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,843 in 2024
  • 4 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2008 (13 births)

Meaning

What does Holy mean?

The given name Holy has its roots in the English language, derived from the Old English word "halig," which means sacred, consecrated, or revered. This word traces its origins back to the Proto-Germanic "khailag," meaning "whole" or "uninjured." The name Holy emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, roughly between the 5th and 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Holy can be found in the Old English poem "Beowulf," composed between the 8th and 11th centuries. In this epic, Holy is mentioned as a character's name. Additionally, the name appears in various Old English religious texts and manuscripts, reflecting its association with sacredness and reverence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Holy. One of the earliest recorded examples is Holy, the Bishop of Trier in the 8th century, who played a crucial role in the evangelization of the Rhineland region. Another prominent figure was Holy, the Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, England, who lived in the 12th century and was renowned for his spiritual leadership and writings.

In the 13th century, Holy of Kerkveld, a Dutch mystic and writer, gained recognition for her influential religious works and teachings. A century later, Holy of Cambrai, a Flemish nun and mystic, made significant contributions to the spiritual literature of her time.

Moving forward to the 16th century, Holy of the Holy Cross, also known as Juan de Yepes, was a Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar who played a pivotal role in the reform of the Carmelite Order alongside St. Teresa of Avila. His writings, such as "The Ascent of Mount Carmel" and "The Dark Night of the Soul," have profoundly influenced Christian mysticism.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Holy, each leaving their mark in various fields, from religious leadership and mysticism to literature and spiritual teachings. The name's association with sacredness and reverence has persisted through the centuries, reflecting the enduring significance of its origins and meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Holy over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Holy in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Holy, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0371013200520142024

Decades

Holy by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Holy 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 #5256 7 2
2010s #4837 29 7
2000s #3759 20 3

Related

Names similar to Holy

FAQ

Holy: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Holy was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Holy most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 13 babies registered as Holy in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Holy?

Derived from a word meaning "sacred" or "consecrated.".

How many people are called Holy in the UK?

A total of 56 babies have been registered as Holy across the 12 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.