UK girl's name
Lima
A feminine name derived from the Spanish dialect word for "lime tree".
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.
Lima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 17 births.
This profile covers 107 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 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 65% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 106 living people in the UK are called Lima. 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
- • Lima ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 17 girls were registered as Lima.
- • About 106 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2021
17 births
Estimated living
106
2026
Meaning
What does Lima mean?
The name Lima is thought to have originated from the Quechua language, which was spoken by the indigenous people of the Andes in South America, particularly in what is now Peru. The name is believed to derive from the Quechua word "rimaq," meaning "speaker" or "one who speaks."
During the Inca Empire, which flourished in the region from the 13th to the 16th century, the city of Lima was founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1535. It was originally named Ciudad de los Reyes (City of the Kings), but it eventually became known as Lima, possibly inspired by the nearby Rimac River, whose name is derived from the Quechua word "rimaq."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lima can be found in the writings of the Spanish chronicler Pedro Cieza de León, who documented the exploration and conquest of Peru in the 16th century. He referred to the region and the river as "Rimac" in his works.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lima. One of the earliest was Lima Batumenabit, a 16th-century Inca princess who played a significant role in the resistance against the Spanish conquest.
In the 19th century, Lima Barreto (1881-1922) was a renowned Brazilian writer and journalist known for his criticism of the social and racial inequalities in Brazilian society. His works, such as the novel "Recordações do Escrivão Isaías Caminha" (Memories of the Scribe Isaías Caminha), are considered classics of Brazilian literature.
Another notable figure was Lima de Freitas (1927-1998), a Portuguese writer and journalist who was a prominent figure in the anti-fascist resistance during the Estado Novo regime in Portugal. His works, including the novel "Os Capitães de Abril" (The Captains of April), chronicled the struggles against the authoritarian regime.
In the field of sports, Lima Sopoaga (born 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who has represented the All Blacks, the national team of New Zealand, and has played for various professional clubs.
Additionally, Lima Duarte (born 1939) is a Brazilian actor and director who has had a prolific career in television, theater, and film. He is best known for his roles in popular telenovelas (soap operas) and for his work in promoting environmental causes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lima over time
The chart below shows babies named Lima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Lima, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lima by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lima 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 | #2422 | 61 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4883 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4191 | 27 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3400 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Lima
- 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
Lima: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lima in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lima was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Lima most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 17 babies registered as Lima in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lima?
A feminine name derived from the Spanish dialect word for "lime tree".
How many people are called Lima in the UK?
A total of 107 babies have been registered as Lima across the 17 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.