NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Serendipity

A fortunate, pleasant discovery by happy chance or accident.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Serendipity is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Serendipity popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 3 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2002 to 2020. 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 9 living people in the UK are called Serendipity. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Serendipity ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 3 girls were registered as Serendipity.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Serendipity as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5493

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2002

3 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Serendipity mean?

The name Serendipity is derived from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," written in the 16th century. The word "Serendip" is an old Persian name for Sri Lanka, the island where the story is set. The term "serendipity" itself was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, referring to the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident.

The name Serendipity is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures. Its origin is purely literary, stemming from the Persian fairy tale. The earliest recorded use of the name Serendipity for a person is believed to be in the late 20th century, as it gained popularity as a unique and whimsical given name.

One of the earliest notable individuals named Serendipity was Serendipity Atzaro, an Australian fashion designer born in 1980. She founded the clothing label "Serendipity" and became known for her bohemian and sustainable fashion designs.

Another notable figure with this name is Serendipity Dillard, an American actress born in 1990. She has appeared in various television shows and films, including "How to Get Away with Murder" and "Dirty Grandpa."

In the literary world, there is Serendipity Blackmore, an American author born in 1971. She is known for her young adult fantasy novels, including the "Summerlands" series.

Serendipity Callery is a British artist and illustrator born in 1989. She is renowned for her intricate and whimsical illustrations, often featuring fantastical creatures and natural elements.

Lastly, Serendipity Hartley is a Canadian singer-songwriter born in 1995. She has released several independent albums and has gained a following for her soulful and introspective music.

While the name Serendipity is relatively modern and unique, it has been embraced by individuals in various creative fields, reflecting the serendipitous nature of their personal journeys and artistic pursuits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Serendipity over time

The chart below shows babies named Serendipity registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Serendipity, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Serendipity
01223200220112020

Decades

Serendipity by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Serendipity 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 #5493 3 1
2010s #5765 3 1
2000s #4137 3 1

Related

Names similar to Serendipity

FAQ

Serendipity: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Serendipity was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Serendipity most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 3 babies registered as Serendipity in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Serendipity?

A fortunate, pleasant discovery by happy chance or accident.

How many people are called Serendipity in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Serendipity across the 3 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.