NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Dhaval

A masculine Hindu name meaning "bearer of wealth" or "prosperity".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2003. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Dhaval is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dhaval popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2003 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3467, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 6 births.

This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2003. 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 17 living people in the UK are called Dhaval. 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 2004 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Dhaval ranked #3467 for boys in England and Wales in 2003, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 6 boys were registered as Dhaval.
  • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dhaval as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3467

2003

Births in 2003

3

Latest year

Peak year

1998

6 births

Estimated living

17

2026

Meaning

What does Dhaval mean?

The name Dhaval is of Sanskrit origin and is derived from the word "dhavala," which means "bright" or "resplendent." This name has been popular in India for centuries, particularly in the western regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The earliest recorded use of the name Dhaval dates back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used to describe deities or celestial beings associated with light and radiance. In the Mahabharata, one of the longest epic poems in the world, there is a reference to a character named Dhavalaksha, which means "bright-eyed."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dhaval. One of the earliest recorded examples is Dhaval Panth, a 12th-century poet and philosopher from Gujarat, known for his works exploring spirituality and devotion. Another prominent figure was Dhaval Sheth, a 16th-century merchant and philanthropist from Surat, Gujarat, who contributed significantly to the development of trade and commerce in the region.

In the 19th century, Dhaval Bahadur Singh was a prominent leader and freedom fighter from Rajasthan who played a crucial role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British colonial rule. Dhaval Kulkarni, born in 1936, was a celebrated Indian classical musician and composer known for his contributions to the Hindustani classical music tradition.

More recently, Dhaval Chand Mehta, born in 1923, was a prominent Indian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the fields of nuclear physics and astrophysics. He served as the Director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his pioneering work.

The name Dhaval continues to be popular among Indian families, particularly those with roots in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and is often chosen for its positive connotations of brightness, radiance, and auspiciousness.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Dhaval over time

The chart below shows babies named Dhaval registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2003. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Dhaval, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2003, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Dhaval
02356199619992003

Decades

Dhaval by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dhaval 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 #2984 7 2
1990s #2089 10 2

Related

Names similar to Dhaval

FAQ

Dhaval: questions and answers

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

In 2003, Dhaval was ranked #3467 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Dhaval most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 6 babies registered as Dhaval in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Dhaval?

A masculine Hindu name meaning "bearer of wealth" or "prosperity".

How many people are called Dhaval in the UK?

A total of 17 babies have been registered as Dhaval across the 4 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.