NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Meta

A name derived from the Greek preposition meaning "beyond" or "after".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Meta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3117, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 10 births.

This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2009 to 2020. 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 70% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Meta. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Meta ranked #3117 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 10 girls were registered as Meta.
  • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3117

2020

Births in 2020

7

Latest year

Peak year

2015

10 births

Estimated living

51

2026

Meaning

What does Meta mean?

The name Meta is derived from the Latin word "meta," which means "end," "goal," or "boundary." It has its origins in ancient Rome and was initially used as a term in the philosophical and intellectual circles of the time.

In ancient Greek philosophy, the concept of "meta" was explored by thinkers like Aristotle, who used it to describe the study of the fundamental principles and underlying nature of things. This concept was later adopted by the Romans, who incorporated it into their language and culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meta can be found in Roman literature, where it was used as a symbolic representation of the pursuit of knowledge and the quest for understanding the deeper truths of the universe.

Throughout history, the name Meta has been associated with scholars, philosophers, and intellectuals. One notable figure who bore this name was Meta Moller (1765-1828), a Danish writer and translator who played a significant role in introducing the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to Danish readers.

Another influential individual named Meta was Meta Haussen (1876-1958), a Norwegian feminist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and advocated for gender equality in education and employment.

In the realm of literature, Meta Kuspis (1868-1953) was a prominent Lithuanian writer and poet who contributed significantly to the development of Lithuanian literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The name Meta also gained recognition in the field of science and technology. Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller (1877-1968) was an American sculptor and artist, known for her works depicting African American subjects and themes.

Additionally, Meta Lilienthal (1886-1975) was a German aviator and one of the first women in the world to earn a pilot's license. She played a pioneering role in the early days of aviation and helped pave the way for future generations of female pilots.

While the name Meta has its roots in ancient times, it has endured throughout the ages, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. Its association with the pursuit of knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and the exploration of the unknown has made it a timeless name that continues to inspire and captivate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Meta over time

The chart below shows babies named Meta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Meta, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2020, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Meta
035810200920142020

Decades

Meta by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meta 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 #3117 7 1
2010s #4400 41 8
2000s #5556 3 1

Related

Names similar to Meta

FAQ

Meta: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Meta was ranked #3117 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Meta most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 10 babies registered as Meta in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Meta?

A name derived from the Greek preposition meaning "beyond" or "after".

How many people are called Meta in the UK?

A total of 51 babies have been registered as Meta 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.