NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Magenta

A feminine name derived from the reddish-purple color, originally from the Italian dialect word for 'mulberry'.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Magenta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Magenta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 6 births.

This profile covers 68 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 68 living people in the UK are called Magenta. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Magenta ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 girls were registered as Magenta.
  • About 68 living people in the UK are estimated to have Magenta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4684

2018

Births in 2018

4

Latest year

Peak year

2001

6 births

Estimated living

68

2026

Meaning

What does Magenta mean?

The name Magenta is a relatively modern one, originating in the 19th century. It is derived from the French word for the vivid purplish-red color of the same name, which was named after the French battlefield victory of the Battle of Magenta in 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence. The color itself was first created as a synthetic dye in the 1850s.

While the name Magenta does not have any direct ties to ancient texts or religious scriptures, its connection to the color and the historic battle have made it a popular choice for a given name in recent centuries. The earliest recorded use of Magenta as a first name dates back to the late 19th century, shortly after the Battle of Magenta.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Magenta was Magenta Riley, an American vaudeville performer and actress born in 1882. Another notable Magenta was Magenta Devine, an American burlesque performer and actress born in 1892.

In the 20th century, several notable individuals bore the name Magenta. Magenta Lyndley was an American painter and sculptor born in 1920. Magenta Billyrock was a British fashion designer and entrepreneur born in 1938. Magenta Baribeau was a Canadian author and poet born in 1949.

While the name Magenta is not as common as some other given names, its unique and vibrant origin has made it a distinctive choice for parents looking for a name with a touch of color and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Magenta over time

The chart below shows babies named Magenta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Magenta, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Magenta
02356199620072018

Decades

Magenta by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Magenta 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
2010s #4531 13 3
2000s #3908 37 9
1990s #2942 18 4

Related

Names similar to Magenta

FAQ

Magenta: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Magenta was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Magenta most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Magenta in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Magenta?

A feminine name derived from the reddish-purple color, originally from the Italian dialect word for 'mulberry'.

How many people are called Magenta in the UK?

A total of 68 babies have been registered as Magenta across the 16 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.