UK boy's name
Abhishek
One who is worshipped, an honorific title.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Abhishek is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Abhishek popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3416, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 13 births.
This profile covers 127 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 126 living people in the UK are called Abhishek. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Abhishek ranked #3416 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 13 boys were registered as Abhishek.
- • About 126 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abhishek as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3416
2012
Births in 2012
5
Latest year
Peak year
2000
13 births
Estimated living
126
2026
Meaning
What does Abhishek mean?
The name Abhishek originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient India. It is a combination of the prefix "abhi" meaning "towards" or "unto" and the word "shek" meaning "to sprinkle" or "to pour". Together, the name Abhishek signifies the act of anointing or consecrating someone with holy water or other sacred substances.
In Hindu tradition, the practice of Abhisheka or sacred bathing is an important ritual performed during religious ceremonies and cultural events. It is believed to purify the individual and bestow blessings from the divine. The name Abhishek is closely associated with this sacred tradition and is often given to children with the hope that they will lead a righteous and spiritually fulfilled life.
The earliest known reference to the name Abhishek can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. These sacred texts describe the importance of the Abhisheka ritual and its significance in various religious ceremonies and rites of passage.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Abhishek was Abhishek Manu, who is believed to have lived around the 7th century BCE. He was an Indian sage and philosopher known for his teachings on dharma (righteous conduct) and his contributions to the development of Hindu philosophy.
Another prominent individual with this name was Abhishek Chudamani, a 12th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer from the Kalinga region (present-day Odisha). He is renowned for his work on the concept of zero and his significant contributions to the field of mathematics.
In more recent times, Abhishek Bachchan, an Indian actor born in 1976, has carried on the legacy of this name. He is a prominent figure in the Bollywood film industry and has received numerous awards and accolades for his performances.
Abhishek Nayar, born in 1983, is another notable individual with this name. He is a former Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Mumbai and represented India in the ODI format.
Abhishek Singhvi, born in 1959, is an Indian politician and senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India. He has served as a member of parliament and held various important positions within the Indian National Congress party.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Abhishek over time
The chart below shows babies named Abhishek registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Abhishek, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2012, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Abhishek by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abhishek 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3349 | 15 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2207 | 84 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1733 | 28 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Abhishek
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Abhishek: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abhishek in the UK right now?
In 2012, Abhishek was ranked #3416 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Abhishek most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 13 babies registered as Abhishek in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abhishek?
One who is worshipped, an honorific title.
How many people are called Abhishek in the UK?
A total of 127 babies have been registered as Abhishek across the 17 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.