UK name, mostly boys
Psalm
A word of Hebrew origin meaning "sacred song" or "poem".
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 12 girls.
Psalm is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Psalm popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1675, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 15 births.
This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2018 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 58 living people in the UK are called Psalm. 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
- • Psalm ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 15 boys were registered as Psalm.
- • Psalm is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 58 living people in the UK are estimated to have Psalm as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 82.9% of Psalm registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1675
2024
Births in 2024
15
Latest year
Peak year
2023
15 births
Estimated living
58
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Psalm
In England and Wales birth records, Psalm has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 82.9% of registrations are for boys and 17.1% 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.
Psalm registered for boys
- Ranked #1,675 in 2024
- 15 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (15 births)
Psalm registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Psalm mean?
The name Psalm is derived from the Greek word "psalmos," which means "song sung to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument." This word itself comes from the ancient Greek verb "psallein," meaning "to pluck or twang a string." The name has its origins in the biblical Book of Psalms, a collection of sacred poems and hymns found in the Old Testament.
The Psalms were originally composed in ancient Hebrew and were meant to be sung or chanted during religious ceremonies and worship services. The name Psalm is closely associated with the biblical figure King David, who is traditionally attributed as the author of many of the psalms found in the Old Testament. In the Christian tradition, the Psalms are an integral part of the liturgy and are often recited or sung during Mass and other religious services.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Psalm was Psalm West, an English writer and poet who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1585 and is known for his work "The Psalms of David Translated into Lyric Verse," published in 1643.
Another notable figure named Psalm was Psalm Isherwood, an English Quaker and religious writer born in 1653. He was a prominent advocate for religious freedom and wrote extensively on Quaker beliefs and practices.
In the 18th century, Psalm Singer was a notable English composer and organist born in 1740. He was known for his contributions to church music and is credited with composing several hymns and anthems.
Psalm Wilbur Moore was an American Baptist minister and educator who lived in the 19th century. Born in 1818, he served as the president of several theological seminaries and was a prominent figure in promoting education among African Americans.
In the 20th century, Psalm Isadora was a notable American modern dancer and choreographer. Born in 1905, she was a pioneer in the field of modern dance and was known for her innovative and groundbreaking choreography.
These examples demonstrate the rich historical and cultural significance of the name Psalm, which is deeply rooted in religious traditions and has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and disciplines throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Psalm over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Psalm in England and Wales, from 2010 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 Psalm, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Psalm by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Psalm 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 | #2285 | 52 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4726 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Psalm
- 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
Psalm: questions and answers
How popular is the name Psalm in the UK right now?
In 2024, Psalm was ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.
When was Psalm most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 15 babies registered as Psalm in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Psalm?
A word of Hebrew origin meaning "sacred song" or "poem".
How many people are called Psalm in the UK?
A total of 58 babies have been registered as Psalm across the 7 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.