UK boy's name
Sirius
The brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
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.
Sirius is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sirius popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 5 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2005 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Sirius. 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
- • Sirius ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 5 boys were registered as Sirius.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sirius as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
5 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Sirius mean?
The given name Sirius has its origins in ancient Greek mythology and astronomy. It is derived from the Greek word "seirios" which means "scorching" or "glowing". This name was used to refer to the brightest star in the night sky, known as the Dog Star or Sirius.
The name Sirius has been recorded in ancient Greek texts and astronomical records dating back to the 8th century BC. In Greek mythology, Sirius was associated with the dog Orion, who was known as a skilled hunter. The appearance of Sirius in the night sky was believed to bring scorching heat and drought.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sirius was Sirius of Alexandria, a 4th-century AD Greek philosopher and mathematician. He is known for his work on the calculation of the circumference of the Earth and for his contributions to the study of geometry.
Another notable figure named Sirius was Sirius of Pavia, a 7th-century Italian monk and scholar. He is best known for his writings on theology and for his role in the establishment of the Benedictine monastic order.
In the 16th century, Sirius Paulinus was a Danish astronomer and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was involved in the development of the Gregorian calendar.
Sirius Tanner was an English Puritan minister and theologian who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his influential sermons and writings on religious topics.
In more recent history, Sirius Black was a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. He was an important member of the Order of the Phoenix and served as a godfather to the protagonist, Harry Potter.
While the name Sirius has ancient roots and has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon as a given name, likely due to its strong association with the celestial body and its meaning related to heat and scorching.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sirius over time
The chart below shows babies named Sirius registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Sirius, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sirius by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sirius 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 | #4439 | 18 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3951 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sirius
- 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
Sirius: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sirius in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sirius was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sirius most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 5 babies registered as Sirius in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sirius?
The brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
How many people are called Sirius in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Sirius across the 11 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.