UK name, mostly boys
Qi
An Asian name meaning "vital life force" or "energy flow".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 12 girls.
Qi is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Qi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3822, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2005 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Qi. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Qi ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 boys were registered as Qi.
- • Qi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2005.
- • Qi is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Qi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 76.0% of Qi registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3822
2013
Births in 2013
4
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Qi
In England and Wales birth records, Qi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 76.0% of registrations are for boys and 24.0% 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.
Qi registered for boys
- Ranked #3,822 in 2013
- 4 boys registered in 2013
- Peak: 2005 (6 births)
Qi registered for girls
- Ranked #5,591 in 2019
- 3 girls registered in 2019
- Peak: 2010 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Qi mean?
The name Qi has its origins in Chinese culture and language, dating back to ancient times. It is a monosyllabic name derived from the Chinese word "qi," which means "life force" or "vital energy" in the philosophical concept of qi in traditional Chinese culture.
In ancient Chinese philosophy, qi was believed to be the fundamental life force that permeates all things in the universe, including human beings. The name Qi, therefore, carries a profound meaning and symbolism, reflecting the essence of life and vitality.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Qi can be found in ancient Chinese texts and historical records. One of the earliest known individuals with the name Qi was Qi Baishi, a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher who lived from 1864 to 1957. His innovative brushwork and artistic style greatly influenced the development of modern Chinese art.
Another notable figure in history with the name Qi was Qi Jiguang, a famous military strategist and general of the Ming Dynasty, who lived from 1528 to 1588. He is renowned for his contributions to military tactics and strategies, as well as his efforts in defending China against Japanese pirate raids.
In the realm of literature, Qi Gong, a prominent Chinese writer and poet from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), left an indelible mark. His works, which explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition, are considered masterpieces of classical Chinese poetry.
Moving forward in time, Qi Baishi, a celebrated Chinese painter and calligrapher of the 20th century, was born in 1864 and lived until 1957. His unique style, which combined traditional Chinese techniques with a modern sensibility, earned him widespread acclaim both within China and internationally.
Qi Zhala, a renowned Tibetan opera singer and actress, was born in 1934 and made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture through her performances. Her powerful voice and captivating stage presence earned her widespread recognition and numerous accolades.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Qi, each leaving their mark in various fields, from art and literature to military strategy and cultural preservation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Qi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Qi in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Qi, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2013, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Qi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Qi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3710 | 18 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3107 | 20 | 4 |
Geography
Where Qi is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Qi. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Qi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2005.
Across the UK
Qi in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 2005
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Qi
- Quinn 2,941
- Qasim 1,585
- Quentin 481
- Quinton 375
- Quincy 334
- Qais 331
- Quinlan 247
- Qaasim 119
- Quin 105
- Quade 94
- Quintin 88
- Quinten 81
FAQ
Qi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Qi in the UK right now?
In 2013, Qi was ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Qi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Qi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Qi?
An Asian name meaning "vital life force" or "energy flow".
How many people are called Qi in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Qi across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Qi most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Qi ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #535 in 2005. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.