UK boy's name
Norris
Derived from the Old English "norþ rís" meaning "northerner" or "from the north".
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.
Norris is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Norris popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2009 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.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Norris. 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
- • Norris ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 boys were registered as Norris.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Norris as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Norris mean?
The name Norris has its origins in the Norman French language and culture, originating in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "norreis," which means "Norse" or "Northman." This suggests that the name was likely given to individuals with Scandinavian ancestry or those who hailed from the northern regions of France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Norris can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions several individuals bearing the name, indicating its use in the late 11th century.
The name Norris has been associated with various notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John Norreys (1547-1597), an English military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Anglo-Spanish War. He played a significant role in the English campaigns against the Spanish in the Netherlands and Ireland.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Norris (1491-1535), an English diplomat and courtier who served as a member of the Privy Council under King Henry VIII. He was also involved in the dissolution of the monasteries, which marked a crucial period in the English Reformation.
In the realm of literature, Frank Norris (1870-1902) was an American novelist and journalist who was a leading figure in the Naturalist movement. His notable works include "McTeague" and "The Octopus," which explored themes of determinism and the influence of environment on human behavior.
Moving to the field of sports, Chuck Norris (born 1940) is a renowned American martial artist, actor, and producer. He rose to fame through his roles in action films such as "Way of the Dragon" and the "Missing in Action" series, becoming a cultural icon and the subject of numerous internet memes.
Lastly, Lancelot "Capability" Brown (1716-1783) was an English landscape architect whose work had a significant impact on the English garden style. He was known for his naturalistic and sweeping landscape designs, earning him the nickname "Capability" due to his ability to identify the potential of a landscape.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Norris over time
The chart below shows babies named Norris registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Norris, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Norris by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Norris 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Norris
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Norris: questions and answers
How popular is the name Norris in the UK right now?
In 2021, Norris was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Norris most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Norris in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Norris?
Derived from the Old English "norþ rís" meaning "northerner" or "from the north".
How many people are called Norris in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Norris across the 2 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.