UK boy's name
Kirubel
A masculine Ethiopian given name meaning "glory of God".
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.
Kirubel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kirubel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 6 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 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 16 living people in the UK are called Kirubel. 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
- • Kirubel ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 6 boys were registered as Kirubel.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kirubel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
6 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Kirubel mean?
The name Kirubel is of Amharic origin, with roots traced back to ancient Ethiopia. It is derived from the Amharic words "kərub" meaning "angel" and "əl" meaning "of God". Thus, the name can be translated to mean "Angel of God" or "God's Angel".
In the early centuries of Christianity's spread in the Horn of Africa, the name Kirubel emerged as a popular choice for newborns among the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian community. Its connection to angelic beings resonated with the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kirubel can be found in the chronicles of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled over the Ethiopian Empire from the 13th to the 20th century. Several princes and nobles from this lineage bore the name, reflecting its significance within the royal court.
Throughout the centuries, Kirubel has been a name carried by numerous notable figures in Ethiopian history. One such individual was Kirubel Aragawi, a renowned 17th-century scholar and ecclesiastic leader who played a pivotal role in preserving and propagating the Ethiopian Orthodox faith during a turbulent period.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Kirubel Tasew, a 19th-century military commander who fought valiantly against the invading Italian forces during the First Italo-Ethiopian War. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him a place in the annals of Ethiopian history.
In the realm of literature, Kirubel Gebru, born in 1878, was a celebrated poet and playwright whose works captured the essence of Ethiopian culture and identity. His poetic compositions remain cherished treasures of the nation's literary heritage.
The name Kirubel also found its way into the world of Ethiopian sports, with Kirubel Fikadu, born in 1935, being a revered long-distance runner who won numerous international accolades, including gold medals at the prestigious All-Africa Games.
Despite its ancient roots, the name Kirubel continues to be a popular choice among Ethiopian families, serving as a testament to the enduring influence of cultural and religious traditions on naming practices.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kirubel over time
The chart below shows babies named Kirubel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Kirubel, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kirubel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kirubel 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3494 | 10 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kirubel
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kirubel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kirubel in the UK right now?
In 2023, Kirubel was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kirubel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 6 babies registered as Kirubel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kirubel?
A masculine Ethiopian given name meaning "glory of God".
How many people are called Kirubel in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Kirubel across the 4 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.