NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Saffron

A feminine name of Persian origin referring to the vivid orange-yellow spice.

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.

Saffron is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saffron popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1021, with 34 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 345 births.

This profile covers 4,204 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 10% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 4,366 living people in the UK are called Saffron. 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

  • Saffron ranked #1021 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 34 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 345 girls were registered as Saffron.
  • Saffron ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #446 in 2021.
  • About 4,366 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saffron as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1021

2024

Births in 2024

34

Latest year

Peak year

2000

345 births

Estimated living

4,366

2026

Meaning

What does Saffron mean?

The name Saffron has its origins in the Middle English word "saffron," which derives from the Old French "safran" and ultimately from the Arabic "za'faran." This Arabic word refers to the vibrant orange-red spice derived from the crocus flower.

In ancient times, saffron was highly valued for its color, flavor, and fragrance. It was used in cooking, dyeing fabrics, and as a perfume. The name Saffron likely emerged as a reference to the valuable spice, reflecting its rarity and beauty.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Saffron can be found in the 16th century. A notable bearer was Saffron Walden, an English botanist and herbalist born around 1530. She was known for her extensive knowledge of plants and their medicinal properties.

Another historical figure with the name Saffron was Saffron Bradshaw, an English actress who lived from 1690 to 1769. She was a renowned performer in the theaters of London during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Saffron Tomkins (1833-1918) was an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on women's rights and social issues. Her works focused on promoting equality and advocating for progressive causes.

Saffron Skinner (1867-1947) was a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical illustrations. Her detailed depictions of plants and flowers were highly acclaimed for their accuracy and beauty.

In the 20th century, Saffron Burrows (born in 1972) is a notable British actress known for her roles in films such as "Deep Blue Sea" and "Frida." She has had a successful career in both cinema and television.

The name Saffron has been associated with beauty, rarity, and elegance throughout history, reflecting the rich hues and unique qualities of the spice it derives from. Its enduring presence in various cultures and time periods speaks to its timeless appeal and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Saffron over time

The chart below shows babies named Saffron registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Saffron, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 34 births in 2024, compared with 345 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Saffron
086173259345199620102024

Decades

Saffron by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saffron 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 #746 254 5
2010s #558 826 10
2000s #234 2,163 10
1990s #188 961 4

Geography

Where Saffron is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Saffron. 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.

Saffron ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #446 in 2021.

Scotland
5
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Saffron in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#540 in 2023

22 years of NRS records, 146 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#446 in 2021

12 years of NISRA records, 43 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Saffron

  • Saffron Morris

    badminton player

    badminton player

    2007-

  • Saffron Barker

    podcaster; YouTuber; influencer

    YouTuber

    2000-

  • Saffron Hocking

    actor

    British actress

    1994-

  • Saffron Coomber

    actor

    English actress

    1994-

  • Saffron Jordan

    association football player

    English association football player

    1993-

  • Saffron Burrows

    actor; writer; stage actor; model; film director; television actor; film actor

    English actress, model and writer

    1972-

  • Saffron Vestey

    aristocrat

    born 1971; elder daughter of Samuel Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey, and Kathryn Eccles

    1971-

  • Saffron Aldridge

    human rights defender; model

    English fashion model, freelance journalist and social activist

    1968-

Related

Names similar to Saffron

FAQ

Saffron: questions and answers

How popular is the name Saffron in the UK right now?

In 2024, Saffron was ranked #1021 for girls in England and Wales, with 34 births registered.

When was Saffron most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 345 babies registered as Saffron in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Saffron?

A feminine name of Persian origin referring to the vivid orange-yellow spice.

How many people are called Saffron in the UK?

A total of 4,204 babies have been registered as Saffron across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 146 more in Scotland and 43 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Saffron most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Saffron ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #446 in 2021. 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.