UK boy's name
Legend
A given name referring to something remarkable or extraordinary enough to inspire myths or stories.
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.
Legend is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Legend popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 8 births.
This profile covers 54 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2008 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Legend. 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
- • Legend ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 8 boys were registered as Legend.
- • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Legend as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
8 births
Estimated living
54
2026
Meaning
What does Legend mean?
The given name Legend is a relatively modern English word that has been adopted as a name in recent decades. Its origins can be traced back to the late 16th century, derived from the Latin word "legenda," meaning "a narrative of a life." Originally, the term referred to stories about the lives of saints or religious figures that were intended to be read aloud or studied.
As the English language evolved, the word "legend" took on a more general meaning, referring to a traditional story, often about heroic individuals or events. It became associated with tales of bravery, adventure, and extraordinary accomplishments, passed down through generations.
The earliest recorded examples of Legend as a given name appear in the late 20th century, likely reflecting a desire to imbue a child with a sense of greatness, ambition, and the potential for legendary achievements. While not common in historical records, the name gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in certain cultural or ethnic communities.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the first name Legend is Legend Bowry, a Canadian actor born in 1984. He has appeared in various television shows and movies, including the film "The Tuxedo" alongside Jackie Chan.
Another individual with the name is Legend Wilkerson, an American football player born in 1992. He played as a defensive back for the University of Tennessee and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League (NFL).
In the music industry, Legend Siam is a Thai rapper and songwriter born in 1990. He has gained popularity in the Thai hip-hop scene and has released several successful albums and singles.
Legend Ngoepe, born in 1990, is a South African baseball player who made history as the first player from Africa to reach Major League Baseball (MLB) when he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017.
Lastly, Legend Tafa, born in 1995, is a Zimbabwean professional footballer who plays as a striker for Dynamos F.C. in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
While the name Legend may not have a long historical lineage, its modern usage reflects a desire to celebrate and aspire to greatness, with parents bestowing their children with a name that carries the promise of a legendary future.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Legend over time
The chart below shows babies named Legend registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Legend, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Legend by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Legend 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 | #3877 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3761 | 24 | 5 |
| 2000s | #2775 | 6 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Legend
- 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
Legend: questions and answers
How popular is the name Legend in the UK right now?
In 2024, Legend was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Legend most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 8 babies registered as Legend in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Legend?
A given name referring to something remarkable or extraordinary enough to inspire myths or stories.
How many people are called Legend in the UK?
A total of 54 babies have been registered as Legend across the 11 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.