UK girl's name
Rainbow
A gender-neutral name symbolizing the colorful spectrum of arched light.
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.
Rainbow is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rainbow popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 12 births.
This profile covers 80 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1999 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 80 living people in the UK are called Rainbow. 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
- • Rainbow ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 12 girls were registered as Rainbow.
- • About 80 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rainbow as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2020
12 births
Estimated living
80
2026
Meaning
What does Rainbow mean?
The given name Rainbow is a relatively modern name that emerged in the 20th century. It is an English word that refers to the multi-colored arc of light that appears in the sky after a rainstorm. The name reflects a growing trend in the 20th century of naming children after natural phenomena or concepts that evoke positive associations.
The earliest known usage of the name Rainbow can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time period marked by social movements and a counterculture that embraced themes of peace, love, and harmony with nature. The name gained popularity during this era, particularly among those drawn to its vibrant imagery and symbolic associations with hope, diversity, and the beauty of the natural world.
One of the first notable individuals named Rainbow was Rainbow Willard, an American singer and songwriter born in 1966. She rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of the folk-rock duo, Rainbow & Princess. Another early bearer of the name was Rainbow Sun Franks, an American actress born in 1979, who starred in several independent films and television shows.
In literature, the name Rainbow appears in Toni Morrison's acclaimed novel "Song of Solomon," published in 1977. In the novel, the character Rainbow Dead is a symbol of hope and rebirth, reflecting the symbolic significance often associated with the name.
Other notable figures with the name include Rainbow Rowell, an American author of young adult fiction born in 1973, best known for her works such as "Eleanor & Park" and "Fangirl." Additionally, Rainbow Aubrey, born in 1978, is a British actress and filmmaker who has appeared in various television series and independent films.
While the name Rainbow is not derived from any specific language or culture, it has gained a global presence, transcending geographical boundaries and reflecting a universal appreciation for the natural phenomenon it represents. As a given name, it embodies themes of diversity, hope, and the beauty of the natural world, resonating with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rainbow over time
The chart below shows babies named Rainbow registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Rainbow, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rainbow by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rainbow 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 | #3957 | 33 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4232 | 31 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3988 | 13 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rainbow
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rainbow: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rainbow in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rainbow was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Rainbow most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 12 babies registered as Rainbow in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rainbow?
A gender-neutral name symbolizing the colorful spectrum of arched light.
How many people are called Rainbow in the UK?
A total of 80 babies have been registered as Rainbow across the 15 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.