UK boy's name
Chandan
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sandalwood tree".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chandan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Chandan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 6 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2001. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Chandan. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chandan ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 6 boys were registered as Chandan.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chandan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
6 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Chandan mean?
The name Chandan originates from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "chandana," which means sandalwood. Sandalwood is a highly valued fragrant wood that has been widely used in religious and cultural ceremonies across the Indian subcontinent for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chandan can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. In these scriptures, Chandan is often mentioned in the context of religious rituals and offerings to deities. The Ramayana, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, also mentions the name Chandan as a character who was a devotee of Lord Rama.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chandan. One of the earliest known figures was Chandan Nagar, a 9th-century Bengali poet and scholar who is credited with introducing the use of colloquial language in Bengali literature. Another prominent figure was Chandan Lal Sahu, a 16th-century Indian philosopher and spiritual leader who contributed significantly to the Bhakti movement.
In more recent times, Chandan Singh Dhillon (1923-2007) was an Indian Army officer who received the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor, for his bravery during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Chandan Mitra (born 1955) is an Indian journalist and politician who has served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Chandan Roy Sanyal (born 1974) is a renowned Indian film and television actor who has appeared in various Bollywood and Bengali films. Chandan Prabhakar (born 1990) is an Indian cricketer who has represented the Indian national team in various formats of the game.
Overall, the name Chandan has a rich historical and cultural significance, spanning various regions and time periods across the Indian subcontinent. Its association with sandalwood and its presence in ancient texts and literature have contributed to its enduring popularity and usage over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chandan over time
The chart below shows babies named Chandan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chandan, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chandan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chandan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2512 | 9 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2425 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Chandan
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Chandan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chandan in the UK right now?
In 2001, Chandan was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Chandan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 6 babies registered as Chandan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chandan?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sandalwood tree".
How many people are called Chandan in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Chandan 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.