NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Pax

A Latin name meaning "peace".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Pax is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pax popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 7 births.

This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2015 to 2023. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Pax. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Pax ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 7 boys were registered as Pax.
  • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pax as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2022

7 births

Estimated living

16

2026

Meaning

What does Pax mean?

The name Pax originated from the Latin word "pax" which means peace. It first appeared in ancient Rome during the Roman Empire era around the 1st century AD. Pax was a title given to the peace established by Roman emperors, particularly during the Pax Romana period from 27 BC to 180 AD.

The name Pax has its roots in the Latin expression "Pax Romana" which translates to "Roman Peace." This phrase referred to the long period of relative peace and stability experienced across the Roman Empire under rulers like Augustus and Marcus Aurelius. The name symbolized the idea of harmony, tranquility, and the absence of conflict.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Pax can be found in ancient Roman inscriptions and historical accounts. Certain Roman coins minted during the reign of emperor Augustus bore the image of the goddess Pax, personifying peace. These coins were often struck to commemorate significant military victories or the establishment of peace treaties.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Pax. One such individual was Pax Romana (born in 500 AD), a Roman philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on the concept of peace and its role in Christian teachings. Another notable bearer was Pax Dei (1040-1109), a French Benedictine monk and scholar known for his efforts in promoting the Peace and Truce of God movement during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, Pax Dei Pacificus (1520-1592) was an Italian Franciscan friar and diplomat who played a crucial role in mediating peace negotiations between warring factions in Europe. A century later, Pax Christi (1625-1698) was a Dutch artist renowned for his depictions of peaceful landscapes and pastoral scenes.

More recently, Pax Romana Britannica (1810-1892) was a British historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the Roman Empire, particularly the Pax Romana period. His works contributed significantly to the understanding of this era of relative peace and stability in the ancient world.

While the name Pax is not as commonly used today as it was in ancient times, it continues to carry the symbolic meaning of peace and harmony, reflecting the enduring human desire for a world free from conflict and strife.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Pax over time

The chart below shows babies named Pax registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Pax, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Pax
02457201520192023

Decades

Pax by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pax 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 #3873 10 2
2010s #4780 6 2

Related

Names similar to Pax

FAQ

Pax: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Pax was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Pax most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 7 babies registered as Pax in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Pax?

A Latin name meaning "peace".

How many people are called Pax in the UK?

A total of 16 babies have been registered as Pax across the 4 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.