NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Darshan

A masculine name from Sanskrit meaning vision, glimpse or spiritual awakening.

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.

Darshan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Darshan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 15 births.

This profile covers 245 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 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 47% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 243 living people in the UK are called Darshan. 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

  • Darshan ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 15 boys were registered as Darshan.
  • About 243 living people in the UK are estimated to have Darshan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2001

15 births

Estimated living

243

2026

Meaning

What does Darshan mean?

The name Darshan has its roots in Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "darshana," which means "vision," "sight," or "perception." The name is commonly found in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, where it holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning.

The earliest recorded use of the name Darshan dates back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts. It is mentioned in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, as well as in the Upanishads, which explore philosophical concepts and spiritual teachings. The name Darshan is often associated with the concept of gaining spiritual insight or achieving a state of enlightenment through the act of seeing or experiencing something deeply meaningful.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Darshan. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Darshan Rishi, a revered Hindu sage who is believed to have lived around the 8th century BCE. He is credited with composing several hymns in the Rigveda, one of the four principal Vedas.

Another prominent figure with the name Darshan was Darshan Singh Puri (1670-1737), a Sikh scholar and poet who lived during the reign of the Mughal Empire in India. He is renowned for his spiritual poetry and his contribution to the Sikh literary tradition.

In the 20th century, Darshan Singh Ragi (1909-1986) was a celebrated Sikh musician and singer who played a significant role in popularizing and preserving the rich musical heritage of the Sikh tradition.

Darshan Singh Khalsa (1944-2008) was an American-born spiritual teacher and author who played a pivotal role in introducing and spreading the teachings of Kundalini Yoga in the Western world.

Darshan Raval (born 1994) is a contemporary Indian playback singer and composer who has gained widespread popularity for his contributions to Bollywood films and music albums.

While the name Darshan has its origins in ancient Sanskrit and is deeply rooted in Indian culture and spirituality, it has transcended geographical boundaries and is now found in various parts of the world, embraced by individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Darshan over time

The chart below shows babies named Darshan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Darshan, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Darshan
0481115199620102024

Decades

Darshan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Darshan 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 #3479 26 5
2010s #2480 80 9
2000s #1669 106 10
1990s #1506 33 4

Related

Names similar to Darshan

FAQ

Darshan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Darshan in the UK right now?

In 2024, Darshan was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Darshan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 15 babies registered as Darshan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Darshan?

A masculine name from Sanskrit meaning vision, glimpse or spiritual awakening.

How many people are called Darshan in the UK?

A total of 245 babies have been registered as Darshan across the 28 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.