NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Pei

A feminine Chinese name meaning "too much" or "surplus".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Pei is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Pei popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.

This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2005 to 2013. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Pei. 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 2014 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Pei ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Pei.
  • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pei as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 88.5% of Pei registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5742

2013

Births in 2013

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

5 births

Estimated living

23

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Pei

In England and Wales birth records, Pei has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 11.5% of registrations are for boys and 88.5% 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.

88% girls
Boys3 (11.5%)Girls23 (88.5%)

Pei registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,527 in 2009
  • 3 boys registered in 2009
  • Peak: 2009 (3 births)

Pei registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,742 in 2013
  • 3 girls registered in 2013
  • Peak: 2011 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Pei mean?

The given name Pei has its origins in the Chinese language. It first emerged during the ancient Zhou Dynasty, which ruled from around 1046 BC to 256 BC. The name is derived from the Chinese character 沛, which means "abundant" or "bountiful."

In ancient Chinese texts, the name Pei appears in historical records and literature from as early as the Spring and Autumn period, which spanned from approximately 771 BC to 476 BC. One notable mention is found in the ancient Chinese text, the Analects of Confucius, where a disciple named Pei Xiu is referenced.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name Pei was Pei Geng, a prominent scholar and calligrapher who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty, around the 2nd century AD. Another influential figure was Pei Xiu, a renowned poet and literary critic who lived during the Tang Dynasty, in the 8th century AD.

One of the most famous people with the name Pei was Pei Qian, a celebrated painter and calligrapher from the Song Dynasty, who lived from 1235 to 1307 AD. His works were highly influential in the development of Chinese art and calligraphy.

In later Chinese history, a notable figure was Pei Xirui, a prominent scholar and educator who lived during the Ming Dynasty, from 1369 to 1454 AD. He was known for his contributions to the education system and his philosophical writings.

Another prominent individual was Pei Wenzhong, a renowned military strategist and general who lived during the Qing Dynasty, from 1640 to 1718 AD. He played a significant role in the defense of the imperial court against rebel forces.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Pei over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Pei in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Pei, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
01345200520092013

Decades

Pei by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pei 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 #4876 12 3
2000s #4603 11 3

Related

Names similar to Pei

FAQ

Pei: questions and answers

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

In 2013, Pei was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Pei most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Pei in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Pei?

A feminine Chinese name meaning "too much" or "surplus".

How many people are called Pei in the UK?

A total of 23 babies have been registered as Pei across the 6 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.