UK girl's name
Sapphire
Blue gemstone, symbolizing royalty, nobility, and celestial beauty.
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.
Sapphire is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sapphire popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #533, with 73 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 148 births.
This profile covers 2,732 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 49% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,794 living people in the UK are called Sapphire. 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
- • Sapphire ranked #533 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 73 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 148 girls were registered as Sapphire.
- • Sapphire ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2023.
- • About 2,794 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sapphire as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#533
2024
Births in 2024
73
Latest year
Peak year
2013
148 births
Estimated living
2,794
2026
Meaning
What does Sapphire mean?
The name Sapphire is derived from the gemstone of the same name, which in turn takes its name from the Greek word "sappheiros," meaning blue stone. The sapphire gemstone has been prized for its deep blue color and durability since ancient times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Sapphire as a given name dates back to the 19th century, when it became popular as a way to honor the beautiful blue gemstone. It was particularly fashionable in English-speaking countries during the Victorian era, reflecting the era's fascination with exotic and romantic names.
While the name Sapphire does not have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the sapphire gemstone itself has been mentioned in various cultures throughout history. In ancient Greece, the sapphire was believed to be a talisman that could ward off evil and protect the wearer from envy and harm.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sapphire was Sapphire Millington, an English novelist and playwright born in 1845. She is best known for her works exploring the societal expectations and challenges faced by women in Victorian England.
Another notable figure with the name Sapphire was Sapphire Stevens (1893-1976), an American actress and singer who performed in vaudeville and on Broadway in the early 20th century.
In the field of sports, Sapphire Cox (1908-1992) was a pioneering female racing driver from England who competed in various motorsports events during the 1920s and 1930s.
Sapphire Ngawikau (1920-2008) was a prominent New Zealand weaver and artist, known for her contributions to the revival and preservation of Maori weaving traditions.
More recently, Sapphire Williams (born 1976) is an American comedian and actress, best known for her roles in the sketch comedy series "The Sapphires" and the film "Precious."
While these are just a few examples, the name Sapphire has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and professions throughout history, each adding their own unique contributions and stories to the legacy of this gemstone-inspired name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sapphire over time
The chart below shows babies named Sapphire 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 Sapphire, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 73 births in 2024, compared with 148 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sapphire by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sapphire 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 | #485 | 425 | 5 |
| 2010s | #355 | 1,314 | 10 |
| 2000s | #475 | 747 | 10 |
| 1990s | #468 | 246 | 4 |
Geography
Where Sapphire is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sapphire. 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.
Sapphire ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2023.
Across the UK
Sapphire in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2024
16 years of NRS records, 66 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#328 in 2023
2 years of NISRA records, 10 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Sapphire
-
Sapphire Elia
actor; film actor
British actress
1987-
Related
Names similar to Sapphire
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sapphire: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sapphire in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sapphire was ranked #533 for girls in England and Wales, with 73 births registered.
When was Sapphire most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 148 babies registered as Sapphire in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sapphire?
Blue gemstone, symbolizing royalty, nobility, and celestial beauty.
How many people are called Sapphire in the UK?
A total of 2,732 babies have been registered as Sapphire across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 66 more in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Sapphire most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sapphire ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #328 in 2023. 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.