UK boy's name
Laban
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "white" or "shining".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Laban is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Laban popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4678, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2004 to 2010. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Laban. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Laban ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 3 boys were registered as Laban.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laban as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4678
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Laban mean?
The name Laban has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "lavan," which means "white" or "pale." This name holds deep significance in the Abrahamic religions, particularly in Judaism and Christianity.
Laban is a prominent figure in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible. He was the son of Bethuel and the brother of Rebekah, who became the wife of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Laban is depicted as a cunning and deceitful character, known for his trickery and manipulation in his dealings with his nephew Jacob.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Laban can be traced back to the Book of Genesis, which is believed to have been written between the 15th and 13th centuries BCE. In the biblical narrative, Laban plays a central role in the story of Jacob, who worked for him for many years to earn the right to marry his daughters, Leah and Rachel.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laban. One of the earliest recorded was Laban of Carrhae, a Roman soldier who lived in the 1st century CE and fought against the Parthians during the reign of Emperor Trajan.
In the Middle Ages, Laban was the name of a 9th-century Frankish count who served under the Carolingian dynasty. He is mentioned in several historical records from that period.
During the Renaissance, Laban Moszyński (1592-1651) was a Polish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish wars of the 17th century.
In more recent times, Laban Maytrix (1849-1920) was an American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry and was known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions.
Another notable figure was Laban Brewster (1827-1904), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1884 to 1888.
These examples demonstrate the enduring presence of the name Laban throughout various cultures and historical periods, reflecting its deep roots in the Abrahamic religious traditions and its continued use as a given name across different regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Laban over time
The chart below shows babies named Laban registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Laban, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laban by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laban 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 | #4678 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3651 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Laban
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Laban: questions and answers
How popular is the name Laban in the UK right now?
In 2010, Laban was ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Laban most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 3 babies registered as Laban in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Laban?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "white" or "shining".
How many people are called Laban in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Laban across the 2 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.