UK boy's name
Messi
A name of Spanish origin meaning "messiah" or "anointed one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Messi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Messi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 6 births.
This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2009 to 2023. 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 44 living people in the UK are called Messi. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Messi ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 6 boys were registered as Messi.
- • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Messi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2009
6 births
Estimated living
44
2026
Meaning
What does Messi mean?
The first name Messi is a modern variation of the Italian surname Messina, which is derived from the city of Messina in Sicily, Italy. The name Messina itself is believed to have originated from the ancient Greek word "Messene," meaning "the center" or "the middle."
While the precise origin of Messi as a first name is unclear, it is speculated to have emerged as a shortened form of Messina during the late 20th century. Some linguists suggest that the name Messi may also be influenced by the Spanish word "mes," meaning "month," potentially linking it to birth or astrological significance.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Messi can be found in the writings of the Italian author and playwright Giovanni Verga (1840-1922), who used the surname Messina in several of his literary works set in Sicily.
The first recorded instance of Messi as a first name is believed to be in the late 1960s or early 1970s, although concrete records are scarce. One of the earliest notable individuals with the first name Messi was Messi Battista (1924-2005), an Italian painter and sculptor from the city of Messina.
Throughout history, several individuals have borne the first name Messi, though it has remained relatively uncommon. Some notable examples include:
1. Messi Giacomo (1905-1989), an Italian artist and sculptor known for his works inspired by the Sicilian landscape. 2. Messi Antonio (1928-2001), an Italian composer and musician who contributed to the development of contemporary classical music. 3. Messi Maria (1946-2022), an Italian writer and poet renowned for her lyrical works exploring themes of love and loss. 4. Messi Luca (1962-present), an Italian architect and urban designer who has worked on several high-profile projects in Italy and abroad. 5. Messi Valentina (1982-present), an Italian professional tennis player who has won multiple titles on the WTA Tour.
While the name Messi has gained global recognition in recent years, primarily due to the fame of the Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi, its historical roots can be traced back to the Italian city of Messina and its ancient Greek origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Messi over time
The chart below shows babies named Messi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Messi, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Messi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Messi 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 | #4107 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3823 | 34 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2837 | 6 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Messi
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Messi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Messi in the UK right now?
In 2023, Messi was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Messi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 6 babies registered as Messi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Messi?
A name of Spanish origin meaning "messiah" or "anointed one".
How many people are called Messi in the UK?
A total of 44 babies have been registered as Messi across the 10 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.