UK boy's name
Arka
A masculine name of Hindu origin meaning "sun" or "ray".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arka is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2019. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Arka. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arka ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 boys were registered as Arka.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Arka mean?
The name Arka has its roots in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. In Sanskrit, "Arka" means "sun" or "ray of light," representing the life-giving force and radiance associated with the celestial body. The name can be traced back to the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, when it was used to refer to the Sun God in Hindu mythology.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arka can be found in the Rigveda, a sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns composed around 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE. In these texts, Arka is mentioned as an epithet for the Sun God, Surya, who was revered as the source of light, warmth, and energy vital for all life on Earth.
Throughout the centuries, the name Arka has been associated with several notable figures in Indian history and literature. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Arka, a renowned Sanskrit grammarian and philosopher who lived in the 7th century CE. His seminal work, "Arka Prakasha," contributed significantly to the study of Vedic philosophy and grammar.
Another prominent figure named Arka was a 12th-century Sanskrit scholar and poet from Kashmir. He is credited with composing the influential work "Arka Sataka," a collection of one hundred verses on various philosophical and spiritual themes.
In more recent times, Arka Dey, born in 1954, was a prominent Indian film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to Bengali cinema. His movies often explored socio-political themes and challenged societal norms.
Arka Bagchi, born in 1989, is a contemporary Indian actor and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows, garnering recognition for his versatile performances.
Arka Mukherjee, born in 1965, is an accomplished Indian classical singer and musician who has performed and taught Hindustani classical music internationally, preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of India.
It's worth noting that while the name Arka has its roots in Sanskrit and Hindu tradition, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world, embraced for its connection to the universal symbol of the sun and its radiant connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arka over time
The chart below shows babies named Arka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arka, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arka 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 | #4667 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Arka
- 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
Arka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arka in the UK right now?
In 2019, Arka was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Arka most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Arka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arka?
A masculine name of Hindu origin meaning "sun" or "ray".
How many people are called Arka in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Arka across the 3 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.