Freya is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #7 in 2024. With 1,929 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Freya in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~1.0 others.
Origin & Meaning
Norse — Noble woman; Norse goddess of love and fertility
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UK Rank 2024
#7
US Rank #159
About the Name Freya
Freya is holding steady in the rankings at #7. It reached its peak of #5 in 2023 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 27 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
In terms of origin, Freya is rooted in Norse, where it means "Noble woman; Norse goddess of love and fertility". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Freya is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #159 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Freya
Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 1,929 UK babies named Freya per year, your child will likely be the only Freya in her class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~1.0 others.
Freya has held a stable position around #7 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #5 in 2023 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Freya has Norse origins and means "Noble woman; Norse goddess of love and fertility". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Freya include: Freya Jayawardana — Raden Roro Freyanashifa Jayawardana, known professionally as Freya Jayawardana and mononymously as Freya, is an Indonesian singer, dancer, actress, and the...; Freya Tingley — Freya Tingley is an Australian actress.; Freya Jones — Freya Jones is an English track and field athlete specialising in the javelin throw..
Freya appears in the US top 500 at #159 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,929
UK babies named Freya (2024)
~0.1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~1.0
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Freya
Likely around 1 other Freya in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Freya
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Raden Roro Freyanashifa Jayawardana, known professionally as Freya Jayawardana and mononymously as Freya, is an Indonesian singer, dancer, actress, and the incumbent captain of the JKT48 idol group from the seventh generation which introduced in 2018.
Freya Tingley is an Australian actress. She is best known for her roles as Wendy Darling in the series Once Upon A Time, Christina Wendall in the Netflix series Hemlock Grove, and Francine Valli in Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys.
Freya Hoffmeister is a German business owner and athlete who holds several sea kayaking endurance records. In 2009 she completed a circumnavigation of Australia solo and unassisted, becoming the first woman and only the second person to do so.
Janelle Kao, known professionally as Freya Fox, is an American DJ, record producer, singer, and TV personality and former professional gamer. She is most notable for her collaboration with Joel Kim Booster and Atsuko Okatsuka at Life is Beautiful Music Festival in Las Vegas, NV in 2022 and her performance at LA3C in 2022.
Freya was a cat who was employed as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office from 2012 to 2014 as the pet of the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and his family. In September 2012, Freya shared the role of chief mouser to the Cabinet Office with Larry.
Freya Van den Bossche is a Belgian (Flemish) politician and daughter of prominent former Belgian politician Luc Van den Bossche. She is member of the SP.a political party, and she was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget and Consumer Protection in the Belgian federal government.
Freya Mavor is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her roles as Mini McGuinness in the E4 teen drama Skins and Daria Greenock in the HBO finance drama series Industry.