UK name, mostly girls
Ying
A feminine Chinese name meaning "flower, petals, elite, or luminous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 47 boys.
Ying is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Ying popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3899, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 9 births.
This profile covers 94 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 93 living people in the UK are called Ying. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ying ranked #3899 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 9 girls were registered as Ying.
- • Ying is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 93 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ying as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 66.7% of Ying registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3899
2020
Births in 2020
5
Latest year
Peak year
2010
9 births
Estimated living
93
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ying
In England and Wales birth records, Ying has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 33.3% of registrations are for boys and 66.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ying registered for boys
- Ranked #3,895 in 2014
- 4 boys registered in 2014
- Peak: 2008 (11 births)
Ying registered for girls
- Ranked #3,899 in 2020
- 5 girls registered in 2020
- Peak: 2010 (9 births)
Meaning
What does Ying mean?
Ying is a Chinese given name with a long and rich history dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Chinese character "瑩" which means "bright" or "luminous". It is believed to have originated during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC) when it was used to describe the radiant beauty of gemstones and pearls.
In ancient Chinese literature, the name Ying appears in several notable works. One of the earliest mentions is found in the Classic of Poetry, a collection of ancient Chinese poems and songs compiled around the 6th century BC. The name is also referenced in the Analects, a collection of sayings and teachings attributed to the philosopher Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC).
Throughout Chinese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ying. One of the earliest recorded examples is Ying Qu (fl. 500 BC), a renowned Confucian philosopher and scholar during the Spring and Autumn period. Another famous bearer of the name was Ying Zheng (259 BC - 210 BC), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty who unified China and established the Great Wall.
During the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 907 AD), a prominent figure named Ying Xingzhi (fl. 650 AD) was a celebrated calligrapher and poet. She is known for her exceptional calligraphic skills and her contributions to the development of the cursive script.
In more recent times, one of the most renowned individuals with the name Ying was Ying Chen (1916 - 2017), a renowned Chinese physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. She was the first female president of the Chinese Physical Society and played a crucial role in the development of China's nuclear program.
Another notable figure was Ying Li (1925 - 1994), a Chinese composer and musician who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Chinese music. His compositions blended traditional Chinese elements with Western influences, creating a unique and influential style.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ying. The name's association with brightness and radiance has endured for centuries, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage and positive connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ying over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ying in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ying, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2020, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ying by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ying 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 | #3899 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3640 | 25 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3140 | 49 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3478 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ying
- Yasmin 10,052
- Yusra 2,725
- Yasmine 2,474
- Yara 1,487
- Yazmin 806
- Yumna 601
- Yasmeen 527
- Yasmina 518
- Yasemin 513
- Yana 452
- Yvie 377
- Yvonne 368
FAQ
Ying: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ying in the UK right now?
In 2020, Ying was ranked #3899 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Ying most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 9 babies registered as Ying in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ying?
A feminine Chinese name meaning "flower, petals, elite, or luminous".
How many people are called Ying in the UK?
A total of 94 babies have been registered as Ying across the 17 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.