UK name, mostly girls
Light
A name derived from the English word for illumination or radiance.
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.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 18 boys.
Light is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Light popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 14 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2022 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.
Light is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Light. 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
- • Light ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 14 girls were registered as Light.
- • Light is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Light as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 59.1% of Light registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2000
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2024
14 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Light
In England and Wales birth records, Light has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 40.9% of registrations are for boys and 59.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Light registered for boys
- Ranked #3,254 in 2024
- 6 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (6 births)
Light registered for girls
- Ranked #2,000 in 2024
- 14 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (14 births)
Meaning
What does Light mean?
The name Light is believed to have originated from the Old English word "leoht," which means "brightness" or "radiance." It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "leukhtaz," which is related to the Latin "lux" and Greek "leukos," both meaning "light."
The name Light has been used throughout history as a symbolic representation of enlightenment, knowledge, and divine illumination. In ancient texts, it was often associated with spiritual awakening and the pursuit of truth.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Light is found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, a collection of annals that documented the history of the Anglo-Saxons from the 9th century to the 12th century. The name appears as a masculine name during this period.
In the 12th century, the philosopher and theologian Peter Abélard wrote a hymn called "Lux Nova" (New Light), which celebrated the birth of Christ as the light that illuminated the world. This hymn may have contributed to the popularity of the name Light in medieval Europe.
Notable historical figures with the name Light include:
1. Light Horse Harry Lee (1756-1818), an American Revolutionary War officer and father of Robert E. Lee. 2. Light Townsend Cummins (1838-1919), an American politician who served as Governor of Iowa from 1901 to 1908. 3. Light Carrujo (1932-2020), a Filipino actor and director known for his work in the Philippine film industry. 4. Light Warlick (1940-2021), an American basketball coach who led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to three NCAA championships. 5. Light Ngidi (born 1996), a South African cricketer who plays for the South African national team and various domestic teams.
While the name Light has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to other names. However, its symbolic meaning and connection to enlightenment and divine radiance have made it a meaningful and enduring choice for parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their child.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Light over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Light in England and Wales, from 2017 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 Light, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Light by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Light 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 | #3191 | 26 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Light
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Light: questions and answers
How popular is the name Light in the UK right now?
In 2024, Light was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Light most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 14 babies registered as Light in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Light?
A name derived from the English word for illumination or radiance.
How many people are called Light in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Light across the 3 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.