UK boy's name
Pius
Masculine form of Latin pius, meaning "pious", "dutiful", or "devout".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pius is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pius popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Pius. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pius ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Pius.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pius as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Pius mean?
The name Pius has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "pius" which means pious, religious, or dutiful. It can be traced back to ancient Roman times, where it was commonly used as a cognomen or additional name to indicate a person's virtue and devotion to religious practices.
In the early Christian era, the name gained significance as it was adopted by several influential figures within the Catholic Church. One of the most notable bearers of this name was Pope Pius I, who served as the Bishop of Rome from around 140 to 155 AD. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and is believed to have died a martyr during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Another prominent figure who bore this name was Pope Pius V, born Antonio Michele Ghislieri in 1504. He is remembered for his role in the Council of Trent, which aimed to reform the Catholic Church and address the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation. Pope Pius V was also instrumental in forming the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic states that defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
In the realm of literature, the name Pius appears in Virgil's Aeneid, where it is used to describe the character of Aeneas, who is depicted as a pious and dutiful leader. This association with virtue and righteousness further solidified the name's positive connotations.
The name Pius has been borne by several other notable individuals throughout history, including Pius VII (1742-1823), who was Pope during the turbulent period of the Napoleonic Wars, and Pius XII (1876-1958), whose pontificate spanned World War II and the early years of the Cold War.
Outside the Catholic Church, the name Pius has also been used by various individuals, such as Pius Rameka (1938-2022), a prominent New Zealand politician and activist of Māori descent, and Pius Cheung (born 1966), a Hong Kong actor and singer.
Overall, the name Pius has a rich historical legacy, originating from Latin and closely associated with religious devotion, virtue, and righteous conduct. Its use by numerous influential figures, particularly within the Catholic Church, has further cemented its significance and enduring appeal across different cultures and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Pius over time
The chart below shows babies named Pius registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Pius, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pius by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pius 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Pius
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Pius: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pius in the UK right now?
In 2021, Pius was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Pius most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Pius in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pius?
Masculine form of Latin pius, meaning "pious", "dutiful", or "devout".
How many people are called Pius in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Pius 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.