Ptolemy
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Greek
Ptolemy is a boys' name of Greek origin. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Ptolemy mean?
Greek
A male given name from Ancient Greek of Greek origin, borne by historical persons in ancient Egypt.
From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is Ptolemy a girl's or a boy's name?
Ptolemy is a boys' name.
How popular is Ptolemy in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2004, with 23 boys.
Half of all the boys named Ptolemy in the UK since 1996 were born between 2006 and 2012, the years shaded on the chart below.
Ptolemy in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | #5,198 |
| 2023 | 0 | – |
| 2022 | 5 | #3,639 |
| 2021 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 5 | #3,502 |
| 2019 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | 7 | #2,823 |
| 2017 | 3 | #4,995 |
| 2016 | 4 | #4,214 |
| 2015 | 6 | #3,149 |
| 2014 | 9 | #2,378 |
| 2013 | 3 | #4,884 |
| 2012 | 4 | #4,147 |
| 2011 | 11 | #2,011 |
| 2010 | 12 | #1,887 |
| 2009 | 10 | #2,084 |
| 2008 | 20 | #1,294 |
| 2007 | 19 | #1,290 |
| 2006 | 19 | #1,207 |
| 2005 | 10 | #1,814 |
| 2004 | 23 | #983 |
| 2003 | 7 | #2,054 |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 0 | – |
| 1999 | 0 | – |
| 1998 | 0 | – |
| 1997 | 0 | – |
| 1996 | 4 | #2,442 |
Names like Ptolemy
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Toby, Oliver, Leon, Charlie, Harvey, Harrison, Harley, Bobby, Alfie, Lucas, Cody, Harry
More Greek names
Luca, Theodore, Sophia, George, Theo, Sofia, Alexander, Sebastian, Penelope, Phoebe, Margot, Luke, Chloe, Sophie, Zoe, Iris
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Ptolemy: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/ptolemy, updated 20 October 2026.