NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ptolemy

A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "aggressive; warrior".

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.

Ptolemy is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ptolemy 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 2004, with 23 births.

This profile covers 181 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 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 13% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 180 living people in the UK are called Ptolemy. 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

  • Ptolemy ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 23 boys were registered as Ptolemy.
  • About 180 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ptolemy 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

2004

23 births

Estimated living

180

2026

Meaning

What does Ptolemy mean?

The name Ptolemy has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek words "polemos" meaning "war" and "mache" meaning "battle". The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 4th century BC.

The name Ptolemy gained widespread recognition and prominence due to the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Greek royal family that ruled over Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC. The dynasty was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a companion of Alexander the Great, who became the ruler of Egypt after Alexander's death.

Ptolemy I Soter (367 BC - 283 BC) was the first ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty and is considered one of the most influential figures in the Hellenistic period. He established the city of Alexandria, which became a major center of Greek culture and learning.

Another notable figure bearing the name Ptolemy was Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309 BC - 246 BC), the son of Ptolemy I Soter. He was known for his patronage of arts, literature, and science, and during his reign, the Library of Alexandria flourished.

One of the most famous individuals with the name Ptolemy was Ptolemy, the renowned astronomer, mathematician, and geographer who lived in Alexandria during the 2nd century AD. He is best known for his work, the "Almagest," which was a comprehensive treatise on astronomy and became a foundational text in the field for centuries.

Ptolemy VI Philometor (186 BC - 145 BC) was another notable ruler from the Ptolemaic dynasty. He faced numerous challenges during his reign, including conflicts with his brother and the intervention of the Roman Republic in Egyptian affairs.

In the realm of literature, Ptolemy of Mauretania (1st century AD) was a grammarian and scholar who wrote extensively on the works of Homer and other ancient Greek texts.

The name Ptolemy has a rich history rooted in the ancient Greek world, with its association with the Ptolemaic dynasty and the renowned astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy. It has been borne by influential rulers, scholars, and intellectuals throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on various fields of study and human civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ptolemy over time

The chart below shows babies named Ptolemy registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Ptolemy, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ptolemy
06121723199620102024

Decades

Ptolemy by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ptolemy 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 #4139 12 3
2010s #3331 58 9
2000s #1448 107 7
1990s #2357 4 1

Notable bearers

Famous people named Ptolemy

  • Ptolemy Dean

    architect

    British architect

    1968-

  • Ptolemy Reid

    politician

    Prime Minister of Guyana, teacher, veterinarian, politician (1912-2003)

    1912-2003

Related

Names similar to Ptolemy

FAQ

Ptolemy: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Ptolemy was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ptolemy most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 23 babies registered as Ptolemy in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ptolemy?

A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "aggressive; warrior".

How many people are called Ptolemy in the UK?

A total of 181 babies have been registered as Ptolemy across the 20 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.