UK name, mostly girls
London
Capital city of England and the United Kingdom, derived from the Roman name Londinium.
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 103 boys.
London is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for London popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 21 births.
This profile covers 188 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2007 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 187 living people in the UK are called London. 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
- • London ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 21 girls were registered as London.
- • London is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 187 living people in the UK are estimated to have London as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 64.6% of London registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2013
21 births
Estimated living
187
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for London
In England and Wales birth records, London has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 35.4% of registrations are for boys and 64.6% 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.
London registered for boys
- Ranked #4,270 in 2024
- 4 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2012 (13 births)
London registered for girls
- Ranked #2,253 in 2024
- 12 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2013 (21 births)
Meaning
What does London mean?
The given name London is an English name derived from the city of London in England. It is believed to have originated from the Roman name "Londinium," which was the name given to the settlement established on the River Thames in the 1st century AD.
The name "Londinium" is thought to be derived from the Celtic word "Londinion," which means "the place belonging to the bold one." This suggests that the name may have been inspired by a person or a tribe that inhabited the area before the Roman conquest.
The earliest recorded use of the name London as a given name dates back to the late 16th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was London Fletcher, who was born in 1580 in Gloucestershire, England.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name London. One of the most famous was London Wits, an English satirist and playwright who lived from 1615 to 1685. He was known for his satirical plays and poems that critiqued the social and political climate of his time.
Another notable individual with the name London was London Ferrill, an American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1755 and served as a private in the Continental Army.
In the 19th century, London Brown was a prominent American educator and activist who worked to establish schools for African American children in the post-Civil War era. He was born in 1841 and played a significant role in the advancement of education for marginalized communities.
One of the more recent notable individuals with the name London was London Witte, an American artist and illustrator who lived from 1916 to 2001. He was known for his illustrations in children's books and his work for various magazines and publications.
While the name London is relatively uncommon as a given name, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the ancient Roman settlement on the River Thames. Its meaning and origins reflect the boldness and resilience of the people who inhabited the area, and it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
London over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as London in England and Wales, from 2004 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 London, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
London by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether London 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 | #2598 | 52 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2470 | 117 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3234 | 19 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to London
- 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
London: questions and answers
How popular is the name London in the UK right now?
In 2024, London was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was London most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 21 babies registered as London in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of London?
Capital city of England and the United Kingdom, derived from the Roman name Londinium.
How many people are called London in the UK?
A total of 188 babies have been registered as London across the 18 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.