UK name, mostly boys
Lior
A Hebrew given name meaning "my light" or "my illumination".
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.
Lior is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Lior popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 15 births.
This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2003 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 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Lior. 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
- • Lior ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 15 boys were registered as Lior.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lior as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 90.1% of Lior registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2021
15 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Lior
In England and Wales birth records, Lior has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 90.1% of registrations are for boys and 9.9% 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.
Lior registered for boys
- Ranked #2,088 in 2024
- 11 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (15 births)
Lior registered for girls
- Ranked #5,687 in 2023
- 3 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2022 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Lior mean?
The name Lior has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "ori," meaning "my light" or "my flame." This name was likely chosen to represent the idea of enlightenment, knowledge, or spiritual illumination.
In the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, there are several references to the concept of light being associated with divine wisdom and guidance. For example, in the book of Psalms, it is written, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). This connection between light and enlightenment may have influenced the choice of names like Lior.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lior can be found in the Talmud, a central text of rabbinic Judaism, where it is mentioned as the name of a sage who lived in ancient Israel during the 3rd century CE. However, it is difficult to determine if this was an actual personal name or simply a title or reference.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Lior. One example is Lior Raz, an Israeli singer and songwriter born in 1976, known for his contributions to the Israeli music scene. Another is Lior Ashkenazi, an Israeli actor born in 1969, who has appeared in numerous films and television shows.
In the realm of sports, Lior Refaelov is an Israeli professional footballer born in 1986, who has played for several clubs in Israel and Belgium. Lior Eliyahu, born in 1985, is an Israeli professional basketball player who has competed in various international competitions.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Lior was Lior Marcuz, a prominent Jewish philosopher and scholar who lived in the 12th century. He was born in Spain and is known for his works on Jewish law, ethics, and philosophy, which had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.
It is worth noting that while the name Lior has Hebrew origins, it has been adopted and used in various cultures and communities around the world, particularly among Jewish communities in different countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lior over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lior in England and Wales, from 2003 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 Lior, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lior by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lior 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 | #1955 | 59 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3507 | 26 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3658 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Lior
- 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
Lior: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lior in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lior was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Lior most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 15 babies registered as Lior in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lior?
A Hebrew given name meaning "my light" or "my illumination".
How many people are called Lior in the UK?
A total of 91 babies have been registered as Lior across the 12 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.