NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tuba

An Arabic feminine name meaning "repentance" or "redemption".

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.

Tuba is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tuba 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 2011, with 7 births.

This profile covers 66 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2000 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 66 living people in the UK are called Tuba. 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

  • Tuba ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 7 girls were registered as Tuba.
  • About 66 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tuba 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

2011

7 births

Estimated living

66

2026

Meaning

What does Tuba mean?

The name Tuba has its origins in the Turkish language, where it was derived from the Arabic word "tub," meaning "repentance" or "return to God." In Turkish culture, the name was often given to children as a reminder of the importance of faith and spiritual growth.

Historically, the name Tuba can be traced back to the 7th century, when it was mentioned in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In the Quran, Tuba is described as a tree in Paradise, symbolizing eternal bliss and reward for the righteous. This reference likely contributed to the name's popularity among Muslims.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tuba can be found in the 9th century, when a Turkish poet and scholar named Tuba bin Nasr al-Maari lived and worked in present-day Syria. Al-Maari was known for his philosophical writings and his contributions to Arabic literature.

In the 13th century, a prominent Turkish military commander named Tuba Noyan served under the Mongol Empire. Tuba Noyan played a crucial role in the conquest of Persia and is remembered for his military achievements and strategic acumen.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over much of the Middle East and parts of Europe from the 14th to the early 20th century, the name Tuba was particularly popular among the ruling class. One notable figure was Tuba Hanim, a 17th-century Ottoman princess and the daughter of Sultan Murad IV.

In more recent history, Tuba Büyüküstün, born in 1982, is a Turkish actress and model who has gained international recognition for her roles in popular TV series and films. She has been widely acclaimed for her talent and has received numerous awards and nominations.

Another notable individual with the name Tuba is Tuba Akyüz, a Turkish classical pianist and composer born in 1975. Akyüz has performed internationally and has received critical acclaim for her interpretations of works by composers such as Beethoven and Chopin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tuba over time

The chart below shows babies named Tuba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 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 Tuba, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tuba
02457200020122024

Decades

Tuba by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tuba 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 #5335 10 3
2010s #4401 38 8
2000s #3725 18 4

Related

Names similar to Tuba

FAQ

Tuba: questions and answers

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

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

When was Tuba most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 7 babies registered as Tuba in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tuba?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "repentance" or "redemption".

How many people are called Tuba in the UK?

A total of 66 babies have been registered as Tuba across the 15 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.