UK boy's name
Rigby
A masculine given name of English origin, possibly derived from a place name.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rigby is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rigby popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 4 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2009 to 2023. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Rigby. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rigby ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 4 boys were registered as Rigby.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rigby as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
4 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Rigby mean?
The name Rigby has its roots in Old Norse and Old English languages, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "hryggr," meaning "ridge" or "back," and the Old English word "by," meaning "settlement" or "village."
In its earliest form, the name was likely used as a descriptive term for a settlement or village located on a ridge or high ground, reflecting the geographic features of the area. The combination of these two words, "hryggr" and "by," eventually evolved into the surname Rigby, which later also became used as a given name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rigby can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Righebi" and "Rigebi," indicating its use as a place name or surname during that period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rigby. One of the most famous was Sir Richard Rigby (1722-1788), a prominent British politician and courtier who served as Chief Secretary for Ireland and as a Member of Parliament. Another notable figure was John Rigby (1776-1845), a renowned English gunsmith known for his innovative contributions to the design and manufacturing of sporting firearms.
In the world of literature, the name Rigby gained recognition through the character of Mr. Rigby in Emily Brontë's classic novel "Wuthering Heights," published in 1847. This character, a lawyer, played a significant role in the unfolding of the story's events.
Other notable individuals with the name Rigby include Walter Rigby (1909-1998), a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous films and television shows, and Sir John Rigby (1924-2011), a British businessman and philanthropist who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside from 1987 to 1999.
While the name Rigby may have originated as a place name or surname, it has since gained recognition as a given name in its own right, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its unique sound and historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal as a first name choice.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rigby over time
The chart below shows babies named Rigby registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rigby, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rigby by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rigby 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 | #4543 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4717 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rigby
- 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
Rigby: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rigby in the UK right now?
In 2023, Rigby was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rigby most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 4 babies registered as Rigby in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rigby?
A masculine given name of English origin, possibly derived from a place name.
How many people are called Rigby in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Rigby 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.