NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Priam

Of Greek origin, a masculine name meaning "he who is preeminent".

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.

Priam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Priam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.

This profile covers 54 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2015 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Priam. 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

  • Priam ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 boys were registered as Priam.
  • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Priam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2023

9 births

Estimated living

54

2026

Meaning

What does Priam mean?

The name Priam originated from the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the word "priatos", which means "ransomed" or "purchased". The name Priam was particularly prevalent in ancient Greek mythology and literature.

In Homer's epic poem, the Iliad, Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War. He was the son of Laomedon and the father of several notable figures, including Hector and Paris. Priam's reign was marked by the devastating conflict with the Achaeans, ultimately leading to the fall of Troy.

One of the earliest recorded individuals named Priam was the mythological Trojan king himself. While the historical accuracy of Homer's accounts is debated, the name Priam became associated with the legendary figure and the events depicted in the Iliad.

In the 5th century BC, a Greek tragic playwright named Priam wrote a play titled "Achilles", which centered around the conflict between Achilles and Hector during the Trojan War. However, little is known about this playwright's life beyond his name and the existence of this work.

During the Byzantine era, Priam was the name of a 6th-century bishop of Chalcedon, a city in present-day Turkey. He played a role in the ecclesiastical disputes of his time and was known for his theological writings.

In the 16th century, Priam was the name of a French ecclesiastic and scholar, Priam de Villebois (1510-1585). He served as the abbot of Saint-Pierre-de-Conches and was known for his translations and commentaries on classical Greek and Latin texts.

Another notable figure named Priam was Priam Lindsell (1643-1724), an English Church of England clergyman and theologian. He served as the Dean of Windsor and was involved in religious controversies during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

While the name Priam has its roots in ancient Greek mythology and literature, it has been used throughout history in various cultural contexts, often associated with individuals involved in religious or scholarly pursuits. The name's connection to the legendary Trojan king has contributed to its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Priam over time

The chart below shows babies named Priam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 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 Priam, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Priam
02579201520192024

Decades

Priam by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Priam 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 #2823 36 5
2010s #3918 18 4

Related

Names similar to Priam

FAQ

Priam: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Priam was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Priam most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Priam in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Priam?

Of Greek origin, a masculine name meaning "he who is preeminent".

How many people are called Priam in the UK?

A total of 54 babies have been registered as Priam across the 9 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.