NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Montell

A masculine name of French origin meaning "little mountain".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2002. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Montell is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Montell popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2002 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2254, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 31 births.

This profile covers 69 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2002. 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 16% 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 Montell. 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 2003 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Montell ranked #2254 for boys in England and Wales in 2002, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 31 boys were registered as Montell.
  • About 68 living people in the UK are estimated to have Montell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2254

2002

Births in 2002

5

Latest year

Peak year

1996

31 births

Estimated living

68

2026

Meaning

What does Montell mean?

Montell is a given name with origins in the French language. It is a variation of the name Montel, which itself is derived from the Old French word "mont," meaning "hill" or "mountain." The earliest recorded use of the name Montell dates back to the 12th century in medieval France.

During the Middle Ages, the name Montell was commonly used in regions of France where there were prominent hills or mountains. It was often given to children born in these areas as a way to connect them to their local geography and surroundings. The name may have also been used to denote a person who lived near or worked on a hill or mountain.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Montell de Montpellier was a renowned physician and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He is believed to have been born in the city of Montpellier, which is located in the hilly region of southern France.

Another historical figure named Montell was a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France in the 14th century. Records indicate that he served under the command of Joan of Arc, the famous military leader and Catholic saint.

In the 16th century, a French explorer named Montell de Monts was among the first Europeans to establish settlements in what is now eastern Canada. He founded the colony of Acadia, which later became part of the French territory in North America.

A notable figure in the realm of literature was Montell Rousseau, a French writer and philosopher born in the late 17th century. He is best known for his influential works on education and his critiques of societal norms during the Enlightenment period.

Moving into the 19th century, Montell Durand was a French architect who gained recognition for his innovative designs and contributions to the Neoclassical architectural style. Some of his most famous works include the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux and the Palais de la Bourse in Paris.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Montell over time

The chart below shows babies named Montell registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2002. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Montell, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2002, compared with 31 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Montell
08162331199619992002

Decades

Montell by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Montell 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
2000s #2630 12 3
1990s #1282 57 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Montell

  • Montell Douglas

    athletics competitor; bobsledder

    British athlete and bobsledder

    1986-

Related

Names similar to Montell

FAQ

Montell: questions and answers

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

In 2002, Montell was ranked #2254 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Montell most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 31 babies registered as Montell in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Montell?

A masculine name of French origin meaning "little mountain".

How many people are called Montell in the UK?

A total of 69 babies have been registered as Montell across the 7 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.