UK girl's name
Poppy
A feminine name referencing the bright red poppy flower.
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.
Poppy is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Poppy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #8, with 1,888 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3,422 births.
This profile covers 52,802 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56,052 living people in the UK are called Poppy. 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
- • Poppy ranked #8 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 1,888 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3,422 girls were registered as Poppy.
- • Poppy ranks best in East Midlands in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #3 in 2024.
- • About 56,052 living people in the UK are estimated to have Poppy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#8
2024
Births in 2024
1,888
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3,422 births
Estimated living
56,052
2026
Meaning
What does Poppy mean?
The name Poppy is derived from the flower of the same name, which is believed to have originated from the Latin word "papaver". The poppy flower has been associated with various cultures and civilizations throughout history, and its symbolism has played a significant role in the popularity of the name.
In ancient Greece, the poppy was closely linked to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility. The flower was believed to represent sleep, peace, and resurrection, and was often used in rituals and ceremonies. It is possible that the name Poppy was first used during this time, although there are no definitive records.
During the Middle Ages, the poppy became a symbol of remembrance and was often associated with the military. The red poppy, in particular, gained significance after World War I, when it was adopted as a symbol to commemorate the fallen soldiers. This connection to the war may have contributed to the name's popularity in the early 20th century.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Poppy dates back to the 16th century. Poppy Gwynne (c. 1563 - c. 1634) was an English herbalist and midwife who gained recognition for her work in the field of medicine. Another notable figure was Poppy Cannon (1888 - 1973), an American home economist and author who played a significant role in popularizing the use of modern kitchen appliances.
In literature, the name Poppy has been used for various characters, including Poppy Upover in Charles Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend" (1864-1865) and Poppy Moore in P.G. Wodehouse's "The Inimitable Jeeves" (1923). Additionally, the character of Poppy in the children's book series "Trolls" has further contributed to the name's popularity in recent times.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Poppy. Poppy Shakespeare (1957 - present) is a British actress known for her roles in films like "Braveheart" and "The Princess Bride". Poppy King (1971 - present) is an Australian entrepreneur and the founder of the cosmetics brand "Poppy Cosmetics". Poppy Northcutt (1924 - 2010) was an American civil rights activist and the first woman to work as an engineer for NASA.
These are just a few examples of the historical and cultural significance of the name Poppy, which has been embraced across various regions and time periods, often drawing inspiration from the symbolism and beauty of the poppy flower itself.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Poppy over time
The chart below shows babies named Poppy registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Poppy, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 1,888 births in 2024, compared with 3,422 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Poppy by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Poppy 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 | #13 | 9,170 | 5 |
| 2010s | #11 | 27,633 | 10 |
| 2000s | #46 | 13,944 | 10 |
| 1990s | #100 | 2,055 | 4 |
Geography
Where Poppy is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Poppy. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Poppy ranks best in East Midlands in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #3 in 2024.
Across the UK
Poppy in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#24 in 2024
36 years of NRS records, 2,563 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#47 in 2024
26 years of NISRA records, 965 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Poppy
-
Poppy Baker
schoolchild
(born 2008)
2008-
-
Poppy Stickler
artistic gymnast; gymnast
Welsh artistic gymnast
2006-
-
Poppy Oliver
daughter of Jamie Oliver
2002-
-
Poppy Soper
association football player
Welsh association football player
2002-
-
Poppy Pattinson
association football player
English association football player
2000-
-
Poppy Wilson
association football player
English association football player
1999-
-
Poppy Laura Anderson
(born 1998)
1998-
-
Poppy Tank
athletics competitor
British long distance runner
1997-
Related
Names similar to Poppy
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
- Primrose 2,967
FAQ
Poppy: questions and answers
How popular is the name Poppy in the UK right now?
In 2024, Poppy was ranked #8 for girls in England and Wales, with 1,888 births registered.
When was Poppy most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3,422 babies registered as Poppy in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Poppy?
A feminine name referencing the bright red poppy flower.
How many people are called Poppy in the UK?
A total of 52,802 babies have been registered as Poppy across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 2,563 more in Scotland and 965 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Poppy most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Poppy ranks best in East Midlands, where it placed #3 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.