NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ludo

A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "famous warrior.".

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.

Ludo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ludo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1402, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 24 births.

This profile covers 181 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2001 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 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 180 living people in the UK are called Ludo. 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

  • Ludo ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 24 boys were registered as Ludo.
  • About 180 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ludo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1402

2024

Births in 2024

19

Latest year

Peak year

2023

24 births

Estimated living

180

2026

Meaning

What does Ludo mean?

The given name Ludo has its origins in the Latin language and was initially derived from the word "ludus," which means "game" or "play." This association with playfulness and leisure activities dates back to ancient Roman times.

In early Christian history, Ludo became a popular name among followers of the faith. It was believed to have been borne by several early Christian saints and martyrs, though records of their specific identities are scarce and often disputed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ludo can be traced back to the 9th century, when a Frankish monk and scholar known as Ludo of Saxony lived and worked in the Benedictine abbey of Ferrières. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of ancient manuscripts and the advancement of education during the Carolingian Renaissance.

In the 11th century, Ludo is mentioned as the name of a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman invasion of England in 1066. This Ludo is recorded as having been granted lands in Gloucestershire after the conquest, further establishing the name's presence in the British Isles.

During the Renaissance period, Ludo emerged as a notable figure in the arts. Ludo Lenzini, an Italian painter born in 1497, was renowned for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches in Florence and Rome. His artistic legacy helped to perpetuate the name's association with creativity and artistic expression.

In the 18th century, Ludo van Beaumont, a Flemish architect and sculptor, gained recognition for his contributions to the Baroque and Rococo styles. Born in 1674, his ornate designs and intricate stone carvings can be found in various churches and public buildings across Belgium and the Netherlands.

The 19th century saw the birth of Ludo Hartmann, an Austrian composer and conductor who lived from 1865 to 1924. His compositions, which included operas, orchestral works, and choral pieces, were influential in the late Romantic period and helped to further establish the name's cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ludo over time

The chart below shows babies named Ludo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Ludo, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ludo
06121824200120122024

Decades

Ludo by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ludo 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 #1601 81 5
2010s #2497 83 9
2000s #3061 17 4

Related

Names similar to Ludo

FAQ

Ludo: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ludo in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ludo was ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.

When was Ludo most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 24 babies registered as Ludo in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ludo?

A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "famous warrior.".

How many people are called Ludo in the UK?

A total of 181 babies have been registered as Ludo 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.