UK name, mostly boys
North
Person oriented to achievements, ambitious, achieving and heading for success.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
North is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for North popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3937, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2019. 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.
North is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called North. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • North ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 4 boys were registered as North.
- • North is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have North as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 70.0% of North registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3937
2019
Births in 2019
4
Latest year
Peak year
2019
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for North
In England and Wales birth records, North has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 70.0% of registrations are for boys and 30.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
North registered for boys
- Ranked #3,937 in 2019
- 4 boys registered in 2019
- Peak: 2019 (4 births)
North registered for girls
- Ranked #5,581 in 2021
- 3 girls registered in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (3 births)
Meaning
What does North mean?
The name North is an English given name derived from the cardinal direction word "north." Its origins can be traced back to Old English and Old Norse languages, where it was used as a directional term. The name's first recorded use as a personal name is believed to have been in the 16th century.
North is a unique name that has been used for both males and females, although it was more commonly given to boys in earlier times. The name's meaning is closely associated with the northern direction, suggesting a sense of guidance, stability, and strength.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name North was North Everard, an English landowner and politician who lived from 1570 to 1639. He served as a member of parliament for several constituencies during the reigns of James I and Charles I.
In the 18th century, North Whittingham (1709-1772) was a notable English clergyman and author. He wrote several religious works and served as a vicar in various parishes.
Another historical figure with the name North was North Ludlow Beamish (1797-1872), a British naval officer and explorer. He served in the Royal Navy and was involved in surveying expeditions in the Arctic regions.
Moving into the 19th century, North Polegreen Graves (1833-1899) was an American politician and lawyer from Missouri. He served in the Missouri State Senate and was known for his advocacy of civil rights and education reform.
In more recent times, North Hunter (1924-2018) was a Canadian actor and writer. He had a prolific career in theatre, film, and television, and was renowned for his performances in Shakespearean plays.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name North. While not as common as some other given names, North has left its mark in various fields, from politics and the military to the arts and literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
North over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as North in England and Wales, from 2003 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 North, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
North by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3937 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to North
- 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
North: questions and answers
How popular is the name North in the UK right now?
In 2019, North was ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was North most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 4 babies registered as North in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of North?
Person oriented to achievements, ambitious, achieving and heading for success.
How many people are called North in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as North 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.