UK girl's name
Sibylla
A feminine name of Greek origin relating to a prophetess or oracle.
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.
Sibylla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sibylla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2011 to 2024. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Sibylla. 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
- • Sibylla ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 girls were registered as Sibylla.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sibylla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Sibylla mean?
The name Sibylla has its origins in ancient Greek mythology, derived from the word "sibyl," which referred to a female prophet or oracle. The original Greek word "sibulla" is believed to have been borrowed from an older language, possibly of Semitic origin, but its precise etymology is uncertain.
In ancient Greek mythology, the most famous sibyl was the Cumaean Sibyl, who resided at Cumae in Italy and was consulted by figures such as Aeneas and other heroes. The sibyl was known for her prophetic abilities and was believed to have lived for an exceptionally long time, possibly even a thousand years.
The name Sibylla gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in Western Europe. It was often associated with the Christian concept of prophets and oracles, as the sibyls were believed to have foretold the coming of Christ.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sibylla can be found in the 11th century, with Sibylla of Normandy (circa 1035-1076), the daughter of William the Conqueror and wife of Robert Curthose. Another notable bearer of the name was Sibylla of Jerusalem (circa 1160-1190), a princess of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the wife of Guy of Lusignan.
During the Middle Ages, the name Sibylla was also used in various literary works, including the Roman de la Rose and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, where it was associated with wisdom and prophecy.
In the 16th century, Sibylla Schwarz (1621-1638) was a renowned German astronomer and mathematician, known for her work on calculating the orbits of comets and planets.
Another famous bearer of the name was Sibylla Maria Merian (1647-1717), a German naturalist and scientific illustrator known for her pioneering work in the study of insects and their metamorphosis. Her detailed illustrations and observations made significant contributions to the field of entomology.
In the 19th century, Sibylla Trelawney (1792-1872) was a British author and traveler who wrote extensively about her travels and experiences in the Middle East and other regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sibylla over time
The chart below shows babies named Sibylla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 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 Sibylla, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sibylla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sibylla 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 | #5736 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5320 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Sibylla
- 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
Sibylla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sibylla in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sibylla was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sibylla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Sibylla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sibylla?
A feminine name of Greek origin relating to a prophetess or oracle.
How many people are called Sibylla in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Sibylla across the 4 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.