NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Saint

A feminine name meaning consecrated, sacred, holy, or virtuous.

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.

Saint is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Saint popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #403, with 101 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 101 births.

This profile covers 460 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2006 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.

Saint is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 472 living people in the UK are called Saint. 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

  • Saint ranked #403 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 101 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 101 boys were registered as Saint.
  • Saint ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #433 in 2021.
  • About 472 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saint as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 95.8% of Saint registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#403

2024

Births in 2024

101

Latest year

Peak year

2024

101 births

Estimated living

472

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Saint

In England and Wales birth records, Saint has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 95.8% of registrations are for boys and 4.2% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

96% boys
Boys460 (95.8%)Girls20 (4.2%)

Saint registered for boys

  • Ranked #403 in 2024
  • 101 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (101 births)

Saint registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,056 in 2023
  • 5 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2023 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Saint mean?

The name Saint has its roots in the Latin word "sanctus," which means "holy" or "sacred." This name has a strong religious connotation and is often associated with individuals who have achieved a high level of spiritual enlightenment or have been recognized for their exceptional piety and devotion.

In the early days of Christianity, the term "saint" was used to refer to those who had been martyred for their faith or had lived exceptionally holy lives. As the religion spread, the concept of sainthood became more formalized, and the process of canonization was established to officially recognize these individuals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Saint can be found in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Acts, which mentions a man named Saint Stephen, who is revered as the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death for his beliefs around 34-35 AD.

Throughout history, numerous individuals have been bestowed with the name Saint, either as a reflection of their religious devotion or as a testament to their virtuous character. Among the most notable figures bearing this name are Saint Augustine (354-430 AD), a renowned philosopher and theologian whose works had a profound impact on the development of Western Christianity.

Another influential figure was Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), the founder of the Franciscan Order and a prominent advocate for poverty and simplicity. His teachings and way of life inspired generations of followers and continue to resonate with many faithful individuals today.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), a Dominican friar and philosopher whose seminal work, Summa Theologica, is considered a masterpiece of scholastic thought and has significantly shaped Catholic doctrine.

Moving forward in time, Saint Joan of Arc (1412-1431) stands out as a remarkable figure in French history. A peasant girl who claimed to have received visions from God, she played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years' War and was later canonized as a Catholic saint.

Lastly, Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), better known as Mother Teresa, deserves mention for her unwavering dedication to serving the poor and destitute. Her selfless acts of compassion and her tireless efforts to alleviate suffering earned her global recognition and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Saint throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and inspiring generations with their unwavering faith, courage, and commitment to spiritual enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Saint over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Saint in England and Wales, from 2006 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 Saint, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 101 births in 2024, compared with 101 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0255176101200620152024

Decades

Saint by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saint 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 #543 368 5
2010s #2611 86 6
2000s #4193 6 2

Geography

Where Saint is most common

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

Saint ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #433 in 2021.

Scotland
4
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Saint in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#619 in 2024

2 years of NRS records, 11 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#433 in 2021

1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Saint

FAQ

Saint: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Saint was ranked #403 for boys in England and Wales, with 101 births registered.

When was Saint most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 101 babies registered as Saint in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Saint?

A feminine name meaning consecrated, sacred, holy, or virtuous.

How many people are called Saint in the UK?

A total of 460 babies have been registered as Saint across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Saint most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Saint ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #433 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.