UK girl's name
Vesta
From Latin, meaning "hearth", the goddess of home and family.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vesta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Vesta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 12 births.
This profile covers 65 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2007 to 2022. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 65 living people in the UK are called Vesta. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vesta ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 12 girls were registered as Vesta.
- • About 65 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vesta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
12 births
Estimated living
65
2026
Meaning
What does Vesta mean?
Vesta is a feminine given name with its origins tracing back to ancient Roman mythology. It is derived from the Latin word 'Vesta', which was the name of the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family in Roman religion. The name has been in use since ancient times.
In Roman mythology, Vesta was one of the most significant deities, and her cult was maintained by the Vestal Virgins, who tended the sacred fire in her temple. The name Vesta was closely associated with the concepts of purity, chastity, and the sanctity of the home and family.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Vesta can be found in ancient Roman texts and inscriptions. One of the most notable historical figures bearing this name was Vesta Antiochis, a Roman empress who lived in the 3rd century AD and was the wife of Emperor Volusianus.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vesta. One of the earliest examples is Vesta Tilley (1864-1952), an English music hall singer and comedian who was a popular entertainer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another notable figure was Vesta Victoria (1838-1917), an American actress and playwright who was active in the 19th century.
In the realm of science, Vesta Stoudt (1938-2018) was an American geologist and mineralogist who made significant contributions to the study of lunar geology and planetary science. Vesta M. Hearne (1913-1985) was an American biologist and academic who specialized in plant physiology and ecology.
In literature, Vesta Gellert (1845-1896) was a Hungarian-born American author and poet who wrote works in both Hungarian and English. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
It is worth noting that while the name Vesta was relatively popular in ancient times and has been used throughout history, it has not been among the most common names in recent decades. However, its connection to Roman mythology and its association with concepts of home, family, and purity have made it a name with enduring appeal and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Vesta over time
The chart below shows babies named Vesta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Vesta, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vesta by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vesta 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 | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4444 | 52 | 10 |
| 2000s | #4387 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Vesta
- Victoria 19,582
- Violet 14,594
- Vanessa 3,696
- Verity 3,437
- Valentina 2,969
- Vienna 2,077
- Vivienne 1,692
- Veronica 1,425
- Valerie 733
- Viktoria 696
- Vera 667
- Vivian 619
FAQ
Vesta: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vesta in the UK right now?
In 2022, Vesta was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Vesta most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 12 babies registered as Vesta in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vesta?
From Latin, meaning "hearth", the goddess of home and family.
How many people are called Vesta in the UK?
A total of 65 babies have been registered as Vesta across the 13 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.