UK girl's name
Medea
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "cunning" or "planner".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Medea is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Medea popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4634, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2021 to 2021. 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.
Medea is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Medea. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Medea ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 girls were registered as Medea.
- • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Medea as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4634
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2021
4 births
Estimated living
4
2026
Meaning
What does Medea mean?
The name Medea originates from ancient Greek mythology and literature. It is believed to be derived from the Greek verb "medein," which means "to plan" or "to contrive." The name is associated with the powerful and complex character Medea, who appears in several ancient Greek texts, most notably Euripides' tragic play "Medea."
Medea was a princess of Colchis, a region located in present-day Georgia. In Greek mythology, she fell in love with Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, and helped him obtain the Golden Fleece. After betraying her father and leaving her homeland, Medea married Jason and had two children with him. However, their relationship was marked by turmoil and betrayal, culminating in Medea's act of vengeance against Jason by killing their children.
The name Medea first appeared in ancient Greek literature, such as the epic poem "Argonautica" by Apollonius of Rhodes, written around the 3rd century BCE. The character of Medea also featured prominently in Euripides' famous tragedy, which was likely written in 431 BCE and explores themes of love, betrayal, and revenge.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Medea. One of the earliest recorded examples is Medea of Caria, a princess who lived in the 5th century BCE and married Idrieus, the ruler of Caria, an ancient region in modern-day Turkey.
In the 16th century, Medea de Valois (1545-1557) was a French princess who was briefly engaged to Don Carlos, the son of King Philip II of Spain. Another famous Medea was Medea Ventura (1555-1610), an Italian composer and music theorist who made significant contributions to the development of early Baroque music.
In more recent times, Medea Electronique (1920-2008) was a Romanian artist and sculptor known for her abstract and surrealist works. Additionally, Medea Norsa (1937-2008) was an Italian writer and journalist who authored several novels and short stories.
The name Medea continues to resonate through its literary and historical significance, evoking themes of power, passion, and the complexities of human nature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Medea by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Medea 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 | #4634 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Medea
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Medea: questions and answers
How popular is the name Medea in the UK right now?
In 2021, Medea was ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Medea most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Medea in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Medea?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "cunning" or "planner".
How many people are called Medea in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Medea across the 1 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.