UK boy's name
Radek
A masculine Czech diminutive form of the Slavic name Radoslav, meaning "rejoicing in glory".
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.
Radek is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Radek 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 2013, with 5 births.
This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2008 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Radek. 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
- • Radek ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 5 boys were registered as Radek.
- • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Radek 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
2013
5 births
Estimated living
32
2026
Meaning
What does Radek mean?
The given name Radek is of Slavic origin, specifically Czech and Polish. It is a diminutive form of the name Radoslav, which is derived from the Slavic words "rad" meaning "joyful" or "happy" and "slav" meaning "glory" or "fame."
The earliest recorded use of the name Radek dates back to the 12th century in Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. It was a popular name among the Czech nobility and gentry during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Radek was Radek of Hroznata, a 13th-century Bohemian nobleman and military leader who fought against the Mongol invasion of Europe in the Battle of Olomouc in 1241.
In the 15th century, Radek Kozísek was a Czech Catholic priest and writer known for his works on medieval theology and philosophy.
During the 16th century, Radek Bienias was a Polish nobleman and military commander who served under King Sigismund III Vasa and played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish War of 1626-1629.
In the 19th century, Radek Dveřák was a Czech composer and violinist who was a contemporary of Antonín Dvořák and contributed to the development of Czech national music.
Another notable figure with the name Radek was Radek Sikorski, a Polish politician and journalist who served as the Minister of National Defense and Deputy Prime Minister of Poland in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Radek over time
The chart below shows babies named Radek registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Radek, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Radek by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Radek 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 | #4285 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4359 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Radek
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Radek: questions and answers
How popular is the name Radek in the UK right now?
In 2024, Radek was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Radek most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 5 babies registered as Radek in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Radek?
A masculine Czech diminutive form of the Slavic name Radoslav, meaning "rejoicing in glory".
How many people are called Radek in the UK?
A total of 32 babies have been registered as Radek across the 9 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.