UK name, mostly boys
Taran
A Welsh masculine name derived from the Celtic element "tarw" meaning "bull".
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.
Taran is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Taran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #757, with 45 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 61 births.
This profile covers 1,242 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 74% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,240 living people in the UK are called Taran. 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
- • Taran ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 45 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 61 boys were registered as Taran.
- • Taran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.
- • About 1,240 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.6% of Taran registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#757
2024
Births in 2024
45
Latest year
Peak year
2007
61 births
Estimated living
1,240
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Taran
In England and Wales birth records, Taran has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 94.6% of registrations are for boys and 5.4% 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.
Taran registered for boys
- Ranked #757 in 2024
- 45 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (61 births)
Taran registered for girls
- Ranked #5,687 in 2023
- 3 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2005 (9 births)
Meaning
What does Taran mean?
The name Taran is believed to have its origins in the Welsh language, where it is derived from the Welsh word "taran," meaning "thunder." This suggests that the name may have been associated with strength, power, and the forces of nature in the ancient Celtic culture of Wales.
Taran is also found in other Celtic languages, such as the Breton word "taran" and the Cornish word "taran," both of which share the same meaning of "thunder." This indicates that the name has deep roots in the broader Celtic linguistic and cultural heritage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taran can be found in the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales and myths. In the tale of "Culhwch and Olwen," a character named Taran Wanderer plays a significant role, suggesting that the name was in use during the 12th century when the Mabinogion was compiled.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Taran. One of the earliest examples is Taran, a 6th-century Welsh prince and warrior who fought against the Anglo-Saxons. Another notable figure is Taran the Bald, a 9th-century Welsh bishop and scholar who played a role in the development of the Welsh language and literature.
In more recent times, the name Taran has been associated with various creative figures. Taran Noah Smith (born 1984) is an American actor best known for his role as Marcus Taylor on the TV series "Home Improvement." Taran Killam (born 1982) is an American actor, comedian, and writer who was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 2010 to 2016.
Additionally, Taran Wanderer, a character in the fantasy book series "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander, has helped to popularize the name in modern literature. The series, which draws inspiration from Welsh mythology and folklore, has introduced the name to a broader audience.
While the name Taran may have originated in Wales, its connection to the broader Celtic cultural heritage and its appearance in various literary and historical contexts have contributed to its enduring presence and recognition across different time periods and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Taran over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Taran in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Taran, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 45 births in 2024, compared with 61 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taran 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 | #867 | 183 | 5 |
| 2010s | #822 | 396 | 10 |
| 2000s | #503 | 534 | 10 |
| 1990s | #558 | 129 | 4 |
Geography
Where Taran is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Taran. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Taran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.
Across the UK
Taran in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#720 in 2021
2 years of NRS records, 7 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Taran
-
Taran Matharu
writer
writer from the United Kingdom
1990-
Related
Names similar to Taran
- 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
Taran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Taran in the UK right now?
In 2024, Taran was ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales, with 45 births registered.
When was Taran most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 61 babies registered as Taran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Taran?
A Welsh masculine name derived from the Celtic element "tarw" meaning "bull".
How many people are called Taran in the UK?
A total of 1,242 babies have been registered as Taran across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7 more in Scotland.
Where is Taran most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Taran ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #720 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.