UK girl's name
Chandni
A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "moonlight" or "moonbeam".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chandni is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Chandni popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 26 births.
This profile covers 149 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2015. 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 148 living people in the UK are called Chandni. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chandni ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 26 girls were registered as Chandni.
- • About 148 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chandni as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
26 births
Estimated living
148
2026
Meaning
What does Chandni mean?
Chandni is a feminine given name with origins in the Sanskrit and Hindi languages. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Chandra," which means "moon." The name Chandni is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions where Sanskrit and its derived languages were widely spoken.
This name holds significance in Hindu mythology, where the moon is revered as a celestial deity. In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas, the moon god is often referred to as Chandra or Chandrama. The name Chandni is a poetic way of associating a person with the beauty and radiance of the moon.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chandni can be found in the 16th-century Braj Bhasha poetry of the Krishna devotional tradition. Poets like Surdas and Mirabai used the name Chandni as a metaphor for the divine feminine or as a descriptor for the beloved.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chandni. One prominent figure was Chandni Begum (1711-1793), a beloved wife of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and a renowned patron of arts and architecture. Another was Chandni Lall (1887-1942), an Indian actress and dancer who was a pioneer of early Indian cinema.
In the realm of literature, Chandni Lokuge (born 1948) is a Sri Lankan-Australian author and academic, known for her novels and short stories exploring themes of migration and identity. Chandni Jaffar (born 1949) is a distinguished Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri recipient, renowned for her contributions to Hindustani music.
More recently, Chandni Kapoor (born 1987) is an Indian actress and model who has appeared in various Bollywood films and television shows. These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Chandni throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chandni over time
The chart below shows babies named Chandni registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chandni, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 26 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chandni by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chandni 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 | #5519 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3128 | 58 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1107 | 78 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Chandni
-
Chandni Mistry
politician
British politician (born 2003)
2003-
Related
Names similar to Chandni
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Chandni: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chandni in the UK right now?
In 2015, Chandni was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Chandni most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 26 babies registered as Chandni in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chandni?
A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "moonlight" or "moonbeam".
How many people are called Chandni in the UK?
A total of 149 babies have been registered as Chandni 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.