UK girl's name
Arnika
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "ray of light".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arnika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Arnika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 7 births.
This profile covers 40 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2015 to 2024. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 40 living people in the UK are called Arnika. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arnika ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 7 girls were registered as Arnika.
- • About 40 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arnika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
7 births
Estimated living
40
2026
Meaning
What does Arnika mean?
The name Arnika is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, derived from the word "arnika" meaning "plant" or "herb." It is thought to be related to the flowering plant known as arnica, which has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.
Arnika has been a popular name in various parts of India for centuries, particularly in regions where Sanskrit has had a strong influence on local languages and cultures. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 5th century BCE, appearing in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Arnika was a renowned Ayurvedic physician who lived in the 7th century CE. Her contributions to the field of traditional Indian medicine were significant, and she is credited with developing several herbal remedies that are still used today.
In the 12th century, an Indian princess named Arnika is said to have played a crucial role in negotiating a peace treaty between two warring kingdoms, earning her a place in the historical records of the time.
During the Renaissance period, a German botanist named Arnika von Bingen (1098-1179) gained recognition for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses. She authored several influential works on the subject and is considered a pioneer in the field of herbal medicine.
In more recent history, Arnika Sorenstam (born 1970) is a Swedish professional golfer who has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career, including being the first woman to play in a men's PGA Tour event since 1945.
Another notable figure is Arnika Devi (1909-1991), an Indian social reformer and activist who dedicated her life to promoting women's education and empowerment in rural areas of the country.
While the name Arnika has been more prevalent in various parts of Asia and Europe throughout history, it has also been adopted in other regions, though to a lesser extent. Regardless of its geographical distribution, the name has maintained a strong connection to its botanical and medicinal roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arnika over time
The chart below shows babies named Arnika registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arnika, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arnika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arnika 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 | #4332 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4817 | 16 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Arnika
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Arnika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arnika in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arnika was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Arnika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 7 babies registered as Arnika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arnika?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "ray of light".
How many people are called Arnika in the UK?
A total of 40 babies have been registered as Arnika across the 9 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.