UK boy's name
Seraphim
Plural of seraph, celestial beings known for praising God eternally.
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.
Seraphim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Seraphim 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 2014, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2014 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Seraphim. 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
- • Seraphim ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 3 boys were registered as Seraphim.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Seraphim 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
2014
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Seraphim mean?
The name Seraphim has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the word "seraphim," which refers to a particular type of celestial being in Judeo-Christian theology. The word "seraphim" is the plural form of "seraph," which means "burning one" or "fiery one."
In the Bible, seraphim are described as powerful angelic beings who attend upon God and serve as guardians of His throne. They are mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, where the prophet has a vision of God seated on a throne, surrounded by seraphim who continuously praise Him. The seraphim are depicted as having six wings, with two covering their faces, two covering their feet, and two for flying.
The earliest recorded use of the name Seraphim can be traced back to the late Middle Ages, particularly in Eastern European countries with strong Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions. It was often given to boys as a symbolic name, representing purity, devotion, and service to God.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Seraphim was Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833), a renowned Russian Orthodox monk and mystic. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is renowned for his ascetic lifestyle, spiritual wisdom, and reported miracle-working abilities.
Another notable figure with the name Seraphim was Seraphim Smolensky (1854-1905), a Russian Orthodox bishop and theologian. He played a crucial role in the revival of Orthodox Christianity in Russia during the late 19th century and was a staunch defender of traditional Orthodox teachings.
In the field of music, Seraphim Tulikov (1859-1901) was a notable Russian composer and conductor. He is best known for his sacred choral works and his contributions to the development of Russian liturgical music.
Seraphim Chichagov (1856-1928) was a Russian naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions. He made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the Arctic coastline and islands.
Seraphim Kostritsky (1876-1937) was a Russian Orthodox priest and martyr who was executed during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Eastern Orthodox Church for his unwavering faith and commitment to his spiritual beliefs.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Seraphim over time
The chart below shows babies named Seraphim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Seraphim, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Seraphim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Seraphim 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4632 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Seraphim
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Seraphim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Seraphim in the UK right now?
In 2023, Seraphim was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Seraphim most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 3 babies registered as Seraphim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Seraphim?
Plural of seraph, celestial beings known for praising God eternally.
How many people are called Seraphim in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Seraphim across the 2 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.