London Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LUN-dən //ˈlʌndən//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: From the great river; a place name
Historical & Cultural Background
The name London has its roots in the ancient Celtic language, derived from the word "Londinios," which is believed to refer to a settlement in the region. This term is thought to have meant "the place of the bold one" or "the place of the river," reflecting the geographical significance of the River Thames.
The name evolved through various forms as the Romans established Londinium around the 1st century AD, integrating it into Latin as "Londinium." Following the Roman withdrawal in the 5th century, the name continued to be used in various forms through Old English and Middle English, eventually solidifying as "London" in modern English. Historically, London has been a significant city since its founding, serving as a center of trade, culture, and governance.
It became the capital of England and has been referenced in numerous historical texts. The name London appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals in Old English, which documents the history of the English people from the 5th century onward.
The city has also been immortalized in literature, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" in the 14th century, which reflects its importance during the medieval period. Culturally, London has been associated with various symbolic meanings, including resilience and innovation, particularly following events like the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz during World War II.
The name has also been adopted in various contexts, such as in literature and music, symbolizing a cosmopolitan spirit. While diminutive forms are less common, the name "Londy" has occasionally been used informally.
Overall, the name London carries a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its enduring legacy as a major urban center.
Famous people named London
In this section, you will find notable people named London. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named London who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named London who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
London Grammar is a British band best known for their albums If You Wait, Truth Is a Beautiful Thing, and Californian Soil.
London Hughes is a comedian and actress best known for her work on The Stand Up Sketch Show, The Last Leg, and her Netflix special To Catch a Dick.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with London, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with London. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name London was first seen in the United States in 1963.
London has ranked as high as #198 nationally, which occurred in 2013, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name London has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name London is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when London was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for London (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 94 | |
| CA | 82 | |
| FL | 63 | |
| NC | 42 | |
| GA | 39 | |
| NY | 34 | |
| OH | 29 | |
| IL | 29 | |
| PA | 29 | |
| TN | 23 | |
| UT | 22 | |
| SC | 22 | |
| LA | 22 | |
| VA | 21 | |
| AZ | 21 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for London.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 872 |
| 2023 | 987 |
| 2022 | 1,071 |
| 2021 | 1,357 |
| 2020 | 1,496 |
| 2019 | 1,728 |
| 2018 | 1,648 |
| 2017 | 1,973 |
| 2016 | 2,356 |
| 2015 | 2,921 |
| 2014 | 3,289 |
| 2013 | 3,462 |
| 2012 | 3,202 |
| 2011 | 3,168 |
| 2010 | 2,872 |
| 2009 | 2,631 |
| 2008 | 2,160 |
| 2007 | 1,196 |
| 2006 | 944 |
| 2005 | 538 |
| 2004 | 411 |
| 2003 | 314 |
| 2002 | 278 |
| 2001 | 270 |
| 2000 | 271 |
| 1999 | 230 |
| 1998 | 194 |
| 1997 | 188 |
| 1996 | 183 |
| 1995 | 153 |
| 1994 | 189 |
| 1993 | 132 |
| 1992 | 141 |
| 1991 | 127 |
| 1990 | 113 |
| 1989 | 86 |
| 1988 | 71 |
| 1987 | 66 |
| 1986 | 52 |
| 1985 | 32 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1983 | 27 |
| 1982 | 15 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 15 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 17 |
| 1977 | 23 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 9 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1972 | 15 |
| 1971 | 13 |
| 1970 | 20 |
| 1969 | 21 |
| 1968 | 18 |
| 1967 | 12 |
| 1966 | 11 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1963 | 6 |