NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Umber

A variant of the English word for an earthy, brown color.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Umber is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Umber popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3142, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1998 to 1998. 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.

Umber is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Umber. 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 1999 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Umber ranked #3142 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 girls were registered as Umber.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Umber as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3142

1998

Births in 1998

4

Latest year

Peak year

1998

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Umber mean?

The name Umber has its roots in the Latin word "umbra," which means "shade" or "shadow." This name is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region during the Roman era, where it was likely used as a descriptive term for someone with a dark complexion or who lived in a shaded or forested area.

In the early days of Christianity, the name Umber may have been adopted by some believers as a symbolic representation of their spiritual journey from darkness to light. However, there are no definitive records of the name appearing in religious texts or scriptures from this period.

The earliest recorded instances of Umber as a given name can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe. One notable figure was Umber de Bailli, a French knight who fought in the Crusades during the 12th century. Another early bearer of the name was Umber di Giovannelli, an Italian painter and sculptor who lived in the 13th century and is known for his work in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

During the Renaissance period, the name Umber gained popularity among artists and intellectuals. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Umber Baccio, an Italian painter and architect from the 16th century who was known for his frescoes and his work on the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

In the 18th century, Umber von Braun was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. He was born in 1742 and passed away in 1814.

Another notable figure was Umber Hawthorne, an American writer and philosopher who lived from 1804 to 1864. He was known for his works exploring themes of human nature, morality, and the dark side of human experience.

While the name Umber has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been carried by a diverse range of individuals from various fields and cultures, each leaving their mark on the world in their own unique way.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Umber by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Umber 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
1990s #3142 4 1

Related

Names similar to Umber

FAQ

Umber: questions and answers

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

In 1998, Umber was ranked #3142 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Umber most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Umber in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Umber?

A variant of the English word for an earthy, brown color.

How many people are called Umber in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Umber across the 1 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.