UK boy's name
Akash
A masculine Sanskrit name meaning "sky" or "endless".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Akash is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Akash popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 57 births.
This profile covers 574 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 9% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 573 living people in the UK are called Akash. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Akash ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 57 boys were registered as Akash.
- • Akash ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #438 in 2004.
- • About 573 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akash as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
1996
57 births
Estimated living
573
2026
Meaning
What does Akash mean?
The name Akash has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages and has been in use since ancient times in South Asia. The word "Akash" literally translates to "sky" or "ether" in Sanskrit, signifying the boundless expanse of the celestial realm.
In Hindu mythology and philosophy, Akash is considered one of the five fundamental elements that make up the universe, alongside earth, water, fire, and air. It is believed to be the subtle, all-pervading, and infinitely vast space that encompasses the entire cosmos. This concept of Akash as a primordial element can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads and the Vedas.
The earliest recorded use of the name Akash dates back to ancient India, where it was commonly given to boys as a symbolic representation of their limitless potential and the vastness of their aspirations. Prominent historical figures who bore the name Akash include Akash Bhairav, a renowned 16th-century Hindu philosopher and poet from the Nath tradition.
During the medieval period, the name Akash gained popularity among the ruling dynasties of India. One notable bearer of this name was Akash Quli Khan, a military commander and administrator who served under the Mughal Empire in the 17th century.
In more recent times, the name Akash has been carried by several influential individuals, such as Akash Ambani, the son of Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and the chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. Another notable figure is Akash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer and cricket commentator who played test cricket for India from 2003 to 2004.
Additionally, the name Akash has been associated with notable artists and intellectuals, including Akash Kapur, an Indian-American author and journalist, and Akash Shatipati, an acclaimed Indian painter and sculptor known for his contemporary artworks.
Throughout its rich history, the name Akash has retained its symbolic connection to the infinite expanse of the sky, serving as a reminder of the boundless possibilities and aspirations that humans can strive for.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Akash over time
The chart below shows babies named Akash registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Akash, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 57 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Akash by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akash 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3349 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2276 | 100 | 10 |
| 2000s | #870 | 265 | 10 |
| 1990s | #448 | 185 | 4 |
Geography
Where Akash is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Akash. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Akash ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #438 in 2004.
Across the UK
Akash in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#438 in 2004
1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Akash
- 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
Akash: questions and answers
How popular is the name Akash in the UK right now?
In 2023, Akash was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Akash most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 57 babies registered as Akash in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Akash?
A masculine Sanskrit name meaning "sky" or "endless".
How many people are called Akash in the UK?
A total of 574 babies have been registered as Akash across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.
Where is Akash most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Akash ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #438 in 2004. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.