NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Mete

A Turkish masculine name meaning "praise" or "commendation".

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.

Mete is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mete popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 9 births.

This profile covers 116 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1999 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 115 living people in the UK are called Mete. 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

  • Mete ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 9 boys were registered as Mete.
  • About 115 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mete as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2016

9 births

Estimated living

115

2026

Meaning

What does Mete mean?

The given name Mete originates from the Turkish language and culture. It derives from the Turkish verb "methetmek," which means "to praise" or "to commend." This name has been used in the region of modern-day Turkey and parts of the former Ottoman Empire for centuries.

The earliest recorded use of the name Mete dates back to the 8th century CE, during the reign of the Göktürk Khaganate in Central Asia. It was mentioned in ancient Turkic inscriptions and historical texts from that period, often referring to rulers or warriors who were praised for their bravery and leadership.

One of the most notable historical figures with the name Mete was Mete Han, the legendary founder and first ruler of the Huns in the 3rd century BCE. Although his existence is debated by some scholars, he is a prominent figure in Hunnic mythology and folklore.

Another significant figure with this name was Mete Bin Kurtulmuş, a 12th-century Turkish poet and philosopher who wrote extensively on Sufism and Islamic mysticism. His works, such as "Fawaid al-Fuad" (Benefits of the Heart), were widely influential in the region.

In the 14th century, Mete Bin Süleyman was a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and artist who contributed to the development of the iconic Ottoman calligraphic style. His works adorned many mosques and palaces in the Ottoman Empire.

During the 16th century, Mete Akça was a prominent Ottoman architect and engineer who designed several iconic structures, including the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Istanbul.

Mete Ergin, born in 1904 and died in 1971, was a renowned Turkish linguist and academic who made significant contributions to the study of the Turkish language and its history. His works, such as "Turkish Grammar" and "Dictionary of Idioms," are considered authoritative references in the field.

Throughout history, the name Mete has been associated with praise, commendation, and excellence, reflecting its Turkish roots and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mete over time

The chart below shows babies named Mete registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Mete, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mete
02579199920112024

Decades

Mete by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mete 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 #2788 36 5
2010s #2840 53 8
2000s #3722 24 7
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Mete

FAQ

Mete: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Mete was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Mete most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 9 babies registered as Mete in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mete?

A Turkish masculine name meaning "praise" or "commendation".

How many people are called Mete in the UK?

A total of 116 babies have been registered as Mete across the 21 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.