UK boy's name
Prosper
Derived from Latin "prospere" meaning "fortunate" or "to thrive prosperously".
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.
Prosper is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Prosper popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 7 births.
This profile covers 75 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2002 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 75 living people in the UK are called Prosper. 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
- • Prosper ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 7 boys were registered as Prosper.
- • About 75 living people in the UK are estimated to have Prosper as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
7 births
Estimated living
75
2026
Meaning
What does Prosper mean?
The name Prosper has its origins in the Latin language, where it stems from the word "prosperus," meaning fortunate or favorable. The name first appeared during the ancient Roman era and was commonly used across the vast Roman Empire.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Prosper can be found in the 5th century AD, when it was borne by a renowned Christian writer and theologian, Prosper of Aquitaine. He was a staunch defender of the teachings of Saint Augustine and played a crucial role in the theological debates of his time.
The name Prosper gained further prominence in the Middle Ages, particularly in Western Europe. It was favored among the nobility and the upper classes, who saw it as a symbol of prosperity and success. One notable figure bearing this name was Prosper Mérimée, a French dramatist, historian, and writer who lived from 1803 to 1870.
In the Renaissance period, the name Prosper continued to be popular across Europe. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Prosper Alpinus, an Italian physician and botanist who lived from 1553 to 1617. He is renowned for his contributions to the study of Egyptian medicine and the introduction of various plants to Europe.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Prosper was particularly popular in France. One notable bearer was Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, a French poet and tragic playwright who lived from 1674 to 1762. His works, such as "Atrée et Thyeste" and "Électre," were highly acclaimed and influential in French literary circles.
In more recent times, the name Prosper has been carried by individuals from various walks of life. One such figure was Prosper Montagné, a French chef and restaurateur who lived from 1865 to 1948. He was renowned for his contributions to the culinary arts and his influential cookbook, "Larousse Gastronomique."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Prosper over time
The chart below shows babies named Prosper registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Prosper, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Prosper by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Prosper 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 | #4358 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3493 | 42 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3351 | 22 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Prosper
- 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
Prosper: questions and answers
How popular is the name Prosper in the UK right now?
In 2024, Prosper was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Prosper most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 7 babies registered as Prosper in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Prosper?
Derived from Latin "prospere" meaning "fortunate" or "to thrive prosperously".
How many people are called Prosper in the UK?
A total of 75 babies have been registered as Prosper across the 16 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.