UK name, mostly boys
Taika
An unisex name of Finnish origin meaning "magic" or "wonder".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Taika is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Taika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 8 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2020 to 2022. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Taika. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Taika ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 8 boys were registered as Taika.
- • Taika is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 83.3% of Taika registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
8 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Taika
In England and Wales birth records, Taika has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 83.3% of registrations are for boys and 16.7% 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.
Taika registered for boys
- Ranked #4,789 in 2022
- 3 boys registered in 2022
- Peak: 2020 (8 births)
Taika registered for girls
- Ranked #5,581 in 2021
- 3 girls registered in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Taika mean?
The given name Taika originated from the Finno-Ugric languages spoken across parts of Northern Europe and Western Siberia. It is believed to have derived from the Proto-Finnic root word "taikka," which means "magic" or "sorcery." The name Taika has been in use since ancient times and can be traced back to the pre-Christian era in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taika can be found in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, which was compiled from traditional folklore and oral traditions in the 19th century. In the epic, Taika is mentioned as the name of a powerful shaman or wise man, highlighting the name's association with magic and wisdom.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Taika. One of the most famous was Taika of Naantali (c. 1285 – c. 1355), a Finnish clergyman and bishop who played a significant role in the establishment of the Catholic Church in Finland during the Middle Ages.
Another notable figure was Taika Waititi (born 1975), a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian of Maori and Jewish descent. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films such as "Jojo Rabbit" (2019) and "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017). Waititi has brought renewed attention to the name Taika and its cultural significance.
In ancient Finnish folklore, Taika was also the name of a legendary sorcerer and healer. According to oral traditions, he was renowned for his ability to cure illnesses and protect people from evil spirits through his mastery of magic and natural remedies.
In the literary world, Taika Vartiainen (1951 – 2018) was a renowned Finnish poet and author. Her poetry often explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition, and she received numerous literary awards and accolades during her lifetime.
Taika Mannermaa (1888 – 1967) was a Finnish artist and painter known for her vibrant landscapes and depictions of rural life in Finland. Her works are celebrated for capturing the beauty and spirit of the Finnish countryside and are displayed in several museums across the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Taika over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Taika in England and Wales, from 2020 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Taika, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taika 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 | #3728 | 15 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Taika
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Taika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Taika in the UK right now?
In 2022, Taika was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Taika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 8 babies registered as Taika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Taika?
An unisex name of Finnish origin meaning "magic" or "wonder".
How many people are called Taika in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Taika 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.