UK name, mostly girls
Story
A feminine name meaning "tale" or "narrative", derived from words of Germanic origin.
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.
Story is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Story popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 6 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2009 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Story. 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
- • Story ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 6 girls were registered as Story.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Story as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 92.1% of Story registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2020
6 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Story
In England and Wales birth records, Story has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 7.9% of registrations are for boys and 92.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Story registered for boys
- Ranked #4,991 in 2023
- 3 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2023 (3 births)
Story registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2020 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Story mean?
The name Story is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "stor," which means "great" or "vast." It is believed to have been used as a surname before becoming a given name, with the earliest recorded instance of its use as a first name dating back to the late 16th century.
In its early days, the name Story was primarily associated with the storytelling tradition, as it was often given to those who excelled in the art of narrating tales and recounting historical events. This connection to the oral tradition may have contributed to its eventual adoption as a given name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Story was Story Mugridge, an English author and playwright born in 1608. Mugridge is known for his contribution to the development of English theatre during the Restoration period.
In the 18th century, Story Penwick (1713-1798) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution. Penwick served as a captain in the Continental Army and played a significant role in several notable battles during the war.
During the 19th century, Story Maskelyne (1823-1911) was a renowned British stage magician and inventor. He is credited with several innovative contributions to the art of magic and illusion, including the introduction of the concept of "modern magic."
In the realm of literature, Story Venturi (1885-1964) was an Italian writer and poet who gained recognition for her poetic works exploring themes of love, nature, and the human experience.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Story was Story Musgrave (born 1935), an American astronaut who participated in several Space Shuttle missions and spent a total of 53 days in space throughout his career with NASA.
While the name Story has its roots in the English language, it has since been adopted and used across various cultures and regions, testament to its enduring appeal and the universal appreciation for the art of storytelling.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Story over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Story in England and Wales, from 2009 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 Story, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Story by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Story 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 | #4249 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4881 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Story
- 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
Story: questions and answers
How popular is the name Story in the UK right now?
In 2024, Story was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Story most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 6 babies registered as Story in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Story?
A feminine name meaning "tale" or "narrative", derived from words of Germanic origin.
How many people are called Story in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Story across the 8 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.