UK girl's name
Prim
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "first" or "delicate".
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.
Prim is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Prim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2018 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Prim. 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
- • Prim ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 girls were registered as Prim.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Prim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2021
4 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Prim mean?
The name Prim is derived from the Latin word "primus," meaning "first" or "primary." It is believed to have originated during the Roman Empire, when it was used as a cognomen (a personal name or nickname) to denote someone who was the firstborn child or the most important person in a family or group.
In ancient Roman culture, the concept of primogeniture, or the right of the firstborn son to inherit the family's property and titles, was deeply ingrained. As such, the name Prim carried a certain prestige and was often given to the eldest son in noble or wealthy families.
The earliest recorded use of the name Prim dates back to the 1st century AD, when it appeared in various Roman inscriptions and historical documents. One notable example is Quintus Fabius Primus, a Roman senator and military commander who lived during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD).
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Prim remained relatively uncommon in Europe, primarily used by families with Roman ancestry or those who valued classical traditions. However, during the Renaissance period, there was a resurgence of interest in classical literature and culture, and the name Prim experienced a modest revival.
One famous historical figure bearing the name Prim was Jacobus Primus (James I of England, 1566-1625), who united the crowns of England and Scotland and commissioned the King James Bible translation. Another notable figure was Prim Visconti (1552-1592), an Italian architect and engineer who designed several significant buildings in Milan.
In the 19th century, the name Prim gained some popularity, particularly in England and the United States. One notable bearer of the name was Prim Bateman (1801-1868), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London.
Another historical figure with the name Prim was Juan Prim y Prats (1814-1870), a Spanish general and statesman who played a crucial role in the Glorious Revolution of 1868, which led to the overthrow of Queen Isabella II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Spain.
In more recent times, the name Prim has remained relatively uncommon, though it has been used occasionally as a given name or as a nickname derived from other names such as Primrose or Primavera.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Prim over time
The chart below shows babies named Prim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 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 Prim, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Prim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Prim 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 | #4663 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Prim
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Prim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Prim in the UK right now?
In 2023, Prim was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Prim most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Prim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Prim?
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "first" or "delicate".
How many people are called Prim in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Prim 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.