UK girl's name
Teija
A Finnish feminine name meaning "diligent" or "hardworking".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Teija is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Teija popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2006 to 2012. 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 7 living people in the UK are called Teija. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Teija ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 girls were registered as Teija.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Teija as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Teija mean?
The name Teija has its origins in the Finnish language. It is a feminine name derived from the Old Finnish word "teitä," which means "path" or "road." The name likely emerged during the medieval period in Finland, when the Finnish language was still developing and taking shape.
Teija is a relatively rare name, and there are few historical records or references to it in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it has been in use in Finland for centuries, and its connection to the concept of a "path" or "journey" may have held cultural significance for the Finnish people.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Teija was Teija Niku, a Finnish author and poet who lived from 1944 to 2017. Her works explored themes of nature, identity, and the human experience, reflecting the deep cultural roots of her name.
Another notable figure was Teija Tiilikainen, a Finnish diplomat and politician who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland from 2007 to 2008. She was born in 1962 and played a significant role in shaping Finland's foreign policy during her tenure.
In the realm of sports, Teija Kaarina Rantanen, born in 1952, was a Finnish cross-country skier who competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 4x5 km relay event in 1980.
Teija Turunen, born in 1949, was a Finnish actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career, which spanned several decades from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
Lastly, Teija Rauhamaa, born in 1938, was a Finnish painter and sculptor known for her abstract and expressionist works. Her art explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition, reflecting the deep cultural roots of her name.
These individuals, spanning various fields and eras, have carried the name Teija and contributed to the rich tapestry of Finnish culture and history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Teija over time
The chart below shows babies named Teija registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Teija, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Teija by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Teija 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4157 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Teija
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Teija: questions and answers
How popular is the name Teija in the UK right now?
In 2012, Teija was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Teija most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Teija in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Teija?
A Finnish feminine name meaning "diligent" or "hardworking".
How many people are called Teija in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Teija across the 2 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.