UK girl's name
Deva
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "god" or "divine".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Deva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Deva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 20 living people in the UK are called Deva. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Deva ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 girls were registered as Deva.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Deva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2021
4 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Deva mean?
The name Deva originated from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language widely used in the Indian subcontinent. It traces its roots back to Vedic literature, which dates back to around 1500-500 BCE. The word "deva" in Sanskrit means "divine being" or "deity," referring to celestial beings or gods in Hindu mythology.
In Hinduism, the term "deva" is used to describe various deities and divine entities. The Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, extensively mention the devas as powerful entities and personifications of natural forces. The Deva Purana, an ancient Hindu text, is dedicated to the stories and accounts of various devas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deva can be found in ancient Hindu texts and inscriptions. The name was often used as an epithet or title for revered individuals who were considered divine or possessed exceptional qualities. Some notable historical figures with the name Deva include:
1. Deva Raya I (1268-1311), a powerful ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India, known for his military conquests and patronage of art and architecture.
2. Deva Raya II (1426-1446), another Vijayanagara king, who expanded the empire's territory and encouraged religious tolerance.
3. Deva Shastri (1853-1928), an Indian scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the study of Sanskrit literature and Vedic philosophy.
4. Deva Prasad Ghose (1855-1933), an Indian lawyer and politician who played a prominent role in the Indian independence movement.
5. Deva Pria (1963-2007), an Indonesian actress and singer who was widely popular in her home country and gained recognition in the Southeast Asian entertainment industry.
The name Deva has also been used in various religious and spiritual contexts beyond Hinduism. In Buddhism, the term "deva" refers to celestial beings or deities who are believed to inhabit higher realms of existence. Similarly, in Jainism, the term is used to describe divine beings and celestial entities.
Throughout history, the name Deva has been associated with divinity, spirituality, and reverence, reflecting its Sanskrit roots and the cultural significance it holds in various religious and philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Deva over time
The chart below shows babies named Deva registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Deva, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Deva by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Deva 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 | #5004 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5707 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3998 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Deva
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Deva: questions and answers
How popular is the name Deva in the UK right now?
In 2023, Deva was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Deva most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Deva in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Deva?
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "god" or "divine".
How many people are called Deva in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Deva across the 6 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.