NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tove

A Scandinavian name of Old Norse origin meaning "beautiful".

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.

Tove is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tove popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 9 births.

This profile covers 57 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2001 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Tove. 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

  • Tove ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 9 girls were registered as Tove.
  • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tove as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2018

9 births

Estimated living

57

2026

Meaning

What does Tove mean?

The name Tove has its roots in Scandinavia, particularly in the Old Norse language. It is derived from the Old Norse word "tófa," which means "tuft" or "clump of grass." In the Old Norse culture, names often drew inspiration from nature, and Tove was likely originally used as a nickname or descriptive name related to the natural world.

Tove gained popularity as a given name in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of literary works from the 13th century that provide insights into the culture and history of medieval Iceland and Norway.

During the Viking Age, the name Tove was not uncommon among Scandinavian women. It is believed that some notable Viking women may have borne this name, though historical records from that period are scarce and often incomplete.

In the 16th century, Tove Galt, a Norwegian noblewoman, was a prominent figure in Norwegian history. She played a significant role in the Reformation in Norway and is known for her support of the Protestant movement.

Another historical figure named Tove was Tove Ditlevsen, a Danish author and poet who lived from 1917 to 1976. She is considered one of the most influential Danish writers of the 20th century and is renowned for her autobiographical works that explored themes of love, loneliness, and mental illness.

In the realm of art, Tove Jansson, a Finnish novelist, painter, and illustrator, gained international recognition for creating the beloved Moomin characters and stories. She lived from 1914 to 2001 and is regarded as one of Finland's most celebrated artists and writers.

Tove Maes, a Belgian singer and songwriter born in 1975, has also gained prominence in the music industry. She has released several successful albums and is known for her unique blend of pop and folk music.

While the name Tove has maintained its roots in Scandinavia, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong cultural ties to the Nordic regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tove over time

The chart below shows babies named Tove registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Tove, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tove
02579200120122024

Decades

Tove by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tove 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 #3654 30 5
2010s #4301 21 4
2000s #4772 6 2

Related

Names similar to Tove

FAQ

Tove: questions and answers

How popular is the name Tove in the UK right now?

In 2024, Tove was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Tove most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 9 babies registered as Tove in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tove?

A Scandinavian name of Old Norse origin meaning "beautiful".

How many people are called Tove in the UK?

A total of 57 babies have been registered as Tove 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.