UK girl's name
Ke
A feminine Vietnamese name meaning "rejoice" or "celebration".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ke is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ke popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 8 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2006 to 2018. 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 51 living people in the UK are called Ke. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ke ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 8 girls were registered as Ke.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ke as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
8 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Ke mean?
The name Ke has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world, each with its own unique meaning and significance.
In Ancient Egyptian, the name Ke was derived from the hieroglyphic symbol representing the concept of "soul" or "spirit." This name was often given to individuals believed to possess a strong spiritual connection or those born under auspicious cosmic alignments.
In Chinese culture, the name Ke carries the meaning of "conquer" or "overcome." It was commonly given to boys as a symbol of strength and perseverance. In ancient Chinese texts, there are records of notable figures bearing this name, such as Ke Jing, a renowned scholar and philosopher during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).
The name Ke also has roots in Japanese culture, where it can be written using different kanji characters, each with its own nuanced meaning. One variation, 恵, means "blessing" or "grace," while another, 慶, signifies "celebration" or "rejoicing."
In the Hindu tradition, the name Ke is associated with the Sanskrit word "Ketu," which represents a celestial body believed to influence human destiny. This name was often given to individuals born during astrologically significant events or celestial alignments.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Ke. One of the earliest recorded examples is Ke Burameng, a legendary hero and warrior from the Manobo people of the Philippines, who lived in the 16th century and fought against Spanish colonizers.
Another prominent figure was Ke Kaihehee, a Hawaiian chief and advisor to King Kamehameha I during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He played a crucial role in unifying the Hawaiian Islands under Kamehameha's rule.
In more recent times, Ke Xili (1925-2011) was a renowned Chinese composer and conductor who contributed significantly to the development of modern Chinese music.
Ke Fengrui (1945-2022) was a prominent Chinese human rights activist and lawyer who fought for the rule of law and civil liberties in China.
Ke Jie (born 1997) is a Chinese professional Go player, widely regarded as one of the strongest players in the modern era, having achieved numerous international titles and accolades.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ke over time
The chart below shows babies named Ke registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ke, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ke by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4170 | 26 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3291 | 25 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ke
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Ke: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ke in the UK right now?
In 2018, Ke was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Ke most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 8 babies registered as Ke in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ke?
A feminine Vietnamese name meaning "rejoice" or "celebration".
How many people are called Ke in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Ke across the 9 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.