UK boy's name
Oberon
A masculine name of English origin from the myth of Oberon, king of the fairies.
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.
Oberon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Oberon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2263, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 11 births.
This profile covers 69 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2001 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 91% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 69 living people in the UK are called Oberon. 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
- • Oberon ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 11 boys were registered as Oberon.
- • About 69 living people in the UK are estimated to have Oberon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2263
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
2021
11 births
Estimated living
69
2026
Meaning
What does Oberon mean?
The name Oberon has its origins in the medieval French romance poem Le Roman de la Rose, written in the 13th century by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. It was derived from the French name Auberon, which itself was based on the Old French albere, meaning "elf king" or "dwarf king."
The name Oberon first gained prominence in the 16th century, when it was used by William Shakespeare in his play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595-96). In the play, Oberon is the king of the fairies and is depicted as a powerful and mischievous figure who rules over the natural world.
Prior to Shakespeare's use of the name, there are few recorded instances of it being used as a given name. However, the character of Oberon has its roots in medieval European folklore and mythology, where he was often portrayed as a trickster figure or a ruler of the fairy realm.
One of the earliest known references to Oberon as a name comes from the German epic poem Das Lied vom Hürnen Seyfrid (The Song of the Horned Siegfried), written in the 13th century. In this poem, Oberon is depicted as a dwarf king who helps the hero Siegfried on his quest.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Oberon. These include Oberon Gaitskel (1615-1687), an English Puritan minister and writer; Oberon Lenoble (1618-1694), a French painter and engraver; and Oberon Vick (1845-1923), an American politician and businessman.
In the realm of literature, the name Oberon has been used by various authors, including Edmund Spenser in his epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590-96), and Ben Jonson in his masque Oberon, the Faery Prince (1611).
Other notable individuals named Oberon include Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (born 1942), an American Neopagan leader and author; and Oberon Sexton (born 1953), an American actor and musician.
While the name Oberon is not as common as some other names, it has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in literary and artistic circles, where its association with fairy lore and mythology has made it a popular choice.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Oberon over time
The chart below shows babies named Oberon registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Oberon, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oberon by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Oberon 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 | #2472 | 43 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3793 | 23 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Oberon
- Oliver 157,197
- Oscar 67,495
- Owen 33,517
- Ollie 13,193
- Oakley 9,838
- Omar 6,823
- Otis 6,395
- Oskar 4,827
- Olly 4,403
- Otto 3,839
- Osian 3,145
- Owain 2,310
FAQ
Oberon: questions and answers
How popular is the name Oberon in the UK right now?
In 2024, Oberon was ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Oberon most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 11 babies registered as Oberon in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Oberon?
A masculine name of English origin from the myth of Oberon, king of the fairies.
How many people are called Oberon in the UK?
A total of 69 babies have been registered as Oberon across the 11 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.