Poppy is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #8 in 2024. With 1,888 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Poppy in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~1.0 others.
Origin & Meaning
English — The poppy flower; remembrance
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UK Rank 2024
#8
US Rank #338
About the Name Poppy
Poppy is holding steady in the rankings at #8. It reached its peak of #5 in 2014 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 28 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
In terms of origin, Poppy is rooted in English, where it means "The poppy flower; remembrance". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Poppy 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 #338 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Poppy
Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 1,888 UK babies named Poppy per year, your child will likely be the only Poppy in her class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~1.0 others.
Poppy has held a stable position around #8 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #5 in 2014 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Poppy has English origins and means "The poppy flower; remembrance". 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 Poppy include: Poppy Corby-Tuech — Poppy Colette Corby-Tuech is a British actress.; Poppy Soper — Poppy Soper is a Welsh footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FA Women's National League North club Rugby Borough and the Wales national team.; Poppy Delevingne — Poppy Angela Delevingne is an English socialite, actress and model..
Poppy appears in the US top 500 at #338 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,888
UK babies named Poppy (2024)
~0.1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~1.0
In a school of 600
↑ 9 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Poppy
Likely around 1 other Poppy 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 Poppy
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers.
Poppy Montgomery is an Australian actress. She played FBI agent Samantha Spade on the CBS mystery drama Without a Trace and Detective Carrie Wells on the CBS/A&E police drama Unforgettable.
A remembrance poppy is an artificial flower worn in some countries to commemorate their military personnel who died in war. Remembrance poppies are produced by veterans' associations, which exchange the poppies for charitable donations used to give financial and practical support to members and veterans of the armed forces.
The name poppy goddess is often used for a famous example of a distinctive type of large female terracotta figurine in Minoan art, presumably representing a goddess, but not thought to be cult images, rather votive offerings. It was discovered in a sanctuary of the Post-palace period at Gazi, Crete, and is now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.