NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Orli

A Hebrew feminine name meaning "my light" or "God's light".

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.

Orli is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Orli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 9 births.

This profile covers 112 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 2004 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 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 111 living people in the UK are called Orli. 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

  • Orli ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 9 girls were registered as Orli.
  • About 111 living people in the UK are estimated to have Orli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3015

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2021

9 births

Estimated living

111

2026

Meaning

What does Orli mean?

The name Orli is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "or," which means "light." It is often associated with brightness, illumination, and radiance.

In Hebrew culture, the name Orli is commonly used as a diminutive form of the name Oriya, which also means "light." The name has been in use since ancient times and can be found in various Jewish texts and historical records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orli can be traced back to the 12th century when it was mentioned in a Hebrew manuscript from Spain. It was the name of a Jewish scholar and poet known as Orli ben Shlomo.

In the 16th century, there was a notable Kabbalist and philosopher named Orli Shem Tov who lived in Safed, Israel. He was known for his contributions to Jewish mysticism and his teachings on the Kabbalah.

Another historically significant figure with the name Orli was Orli Landa, a Russian-born Israeli artist and sculptor who lived from 1908 to 1985. She is renowned for her monumental public sculptures and her work in the field of Israeli art.

In the 20th century, Orli Petry was an Israeli Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the 200-meter butterfly event.

More recently, Orli Shaham is an American classical pianist who was born in 1975. She is renowned for her performances and recordings of works by composers such as Brahms, Chopin, and Mozart.

While the name Orli has its roots in Hebrew culture, it has gained popularity across various cultures and regions over time. It is a name that carries a sense of brightness and illumination, making it a beautiful and meaningful choice for both boys and girls.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Orli over time

The chart below shows babies named Orli registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Orli, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Orli
02579200420142024

Decades

Orli by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Orli 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 #3362 35 5
2010s #4589 44 10
2000s #3007 33 5

Related

Names similar to Orli

FAQ

Orli: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Orli was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Orli most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 9 babies registered as Orli in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Orli?

A Hebrew feminine name meaning "my light" or "God's light".

How many people are called Orli in the UK?

A total of 112 babies have been registered as Orli across the 20 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.