UK boy's name
Quill
A feather or pen from the wing of a bird or fowl.
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.
Quill is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Quill popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 6 births.
This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 6 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Quill. 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
- • Quill ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 6 boys were registered as Quill.
- • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Quill as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2018
6 births
Estimated living
30
2026
Meaning
What does Quill mean?
The name Quill has its origins in the Latin word "quillus," which means "reed" or "hollow plant stem." This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when quills from birds like geese and swans were commonly used for writing and calligraphy.
In medieval Europe, scribes and scholarly monks who meticulously transcribed manuscripts and religious texts would have used quill pens for their work. As such, the name Quill may have been associated with these literate professionals or those involved in the production of books and documents.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Quill dates back to the 14th century. In 1397, a man named Quill Roberdeau was listed in the records of the town of Châlons-en-Champagne, France.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Quill. In the 16th century, Quill Gervais was a French poet and playwright who lived from 1522 to 1585. His works were influential during the Renaissance period.
In the 18th century, Quill Roberts was a Welsh explorer and navigator who was born in 1709 and died in 1784. He is known for his expeditions to the South Pacific and his contributions to the mapping of the region.
During the American Revolutionary War, Quill Wicker was a soldier in the Continental Army who fought against the British. He was born in 1756 and died in 1822, after witnessing the birth of the United States as an independent nation.
In the 19th century, Quill Hawkins was an English author and journalist who lived from 1818 to 1892. He wrote several novels and short stories that were popular in his time.
Quill Baxter was a Scottish inventor and engineer who was born in 1832 and died in 1913. He is credited with developing several innovative designs for steam engines and other industrial machinery.
While the name Quill may have fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its historical associations with writing, literature, and intellectual pursuits have left a lasting impact on its meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Quill over time
The chart below shows babies named Quill registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 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 Quill, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Quill by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Quill 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 | #3645 | 19 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3211 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Quill
- 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
Quill: questions and answers
How popular is the name Quill in the UK right now?
In 2024, Quill was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Quill most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 6 babies registered as Quill in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Quill?
A feather or pen from the wing of a bird or fowl.
How many people are called Quill in the UK?
A total of 30 babies have been registered as Quill across the 6 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.