NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ike

A diminutive of the name Isaac, meaning "he laughs" or "he rejoices" in Hebrew.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ike is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ike popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3112, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 12 births.

This profile covers 135 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 134 living people in the UK are called Ike. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ike ranked #3112 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 12 boys were registered as Ike.
  • About 134 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ike as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3112

2023

Births in 2023

6

Latest year

Peak year

2000

12 births

Estimated living

134

2026

Meaning

What does Ike mean?

The given name Ike has its origins in the Dutch language, derived from the name Isaac. Isaac traces its roots back to the Hebrew name Yitzchak, meaning "he will laugh" or "he laughs." This Biblical name is associated with the Patriarch Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, in the Old Testament.

Ike emerged as a diminutive or shortened form of Isaac, particularly in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions. It gained popularity as a standalone name during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ike can be found in the writings of Dutch author Nicolaas Beets, who used the name in his novel "Camera Obscura" published in 1839.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ike, including:

1. Ike Eisenhower (1890-1969), the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, and a highly acclaimed military leader during World War II.

2. Ike Turner (1931-2007), an American musician and songwriter, known for his influential role in the development of rock and roll music alongside his former wife, Tina Turner.

3. Ike Barinholtz (born 1977), an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker, best known for his work on the television series "The Mindy Project" and films like "Neighbors" and "Blockers."

4. Ike Davis (born 1987), a former professional baseball player who played for the New York Mets and other Major League Baseball teams.

5. Ike Quartey (born 1969), a Ghanaian former professional boxer and former World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight Champion.

While the name Ike may have Dutch roots, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition worldwide, with various notable individuals bearing this moniker throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ike over time

The chart below shows babies named Ike registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ike, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ike
036912199620092023

Decades

Ike by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ike 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 #3156 23 4
2010s #3441 48 9
2000s #2845 55 10
1990s #2220 9 2

Related

Names similar to Ike

FAQ

Ike: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Ike was ranked #3112 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Ike most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 12 babies registered as Ike in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ike?

A diminutive of the name Isaac, meaning "he laughs" or "he rejoices" in Hebrew.

How many people are called Ike in the UK?

A total of 135 babies have been registered as Ike across the 25 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.