NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Dhilan

A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "innocent and peaceful".

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.

Dhilan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dhilan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1951, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 27 births.

This profile covers 325 England and Wales registrations across 27 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 323 living people in the UK are called Dhilan. 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

  • Dhilan ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 27 boys were registered as Dhilan.
  • About 323 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dhilan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1951

2024

Births in 2024

12

Latest year

Peak year

2016

27 births

Estimated living

323

2026

Meaning

What does Dhilan mean?

The name Dhilan is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language from the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhili," which means "patient" or "calm." The name is thought to have been used in ancient India as early as the 5th century BCE.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Dhilan can be found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where it is said to have been the name of a sage or rishi who was known for his patience and wisdom. In the epic, Dhilan is described as a man of great spiritual knowledge and a follower of the path of non-violence and compassion.

During the medieval period, the name Dhilan was popular among Hindu communities in parts of South India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It was often given to boys as a reminder of the virtues of patience and calmness, which were highly valued in Hindu philosophy.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Dhilan. One such figure was Dhilan Ranasinghe (1925-2002), a Sri Lankan novelist and playwright who was known for his works that explored the complexities of human relationships and the social and political issues of his time.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Dhilan Gnanapragasam (1932-2020), a Sri Lankan Tamil writer and academic who made significant contributions to the study of Tamil literature and culture. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of India's highest literary honors, in 1998.

In the 20th century, the name Dhilan also gained popularity among the Indian diaspora communities around the world. One notable example is Dhilan Chandrasena (born 1983), an Australian cricketer of Sri Lankan descent who played for the Australian national cricket team.

Another individual worth mentioning is Dhilan Prem Krishnan (born 1981), a British-Indian actor and writer who has appeared in several television shows and films in both the UK and India. He is known for his work in exploring themes of identity and cultural diversity in his creative projects.

While the name Dhilan has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu traditions, it has transcended cultural boundaries and is now found among various communities around the world, carrying with it the essence of patience, calmness, and wisdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Dhilan over time

The chart below shows babies named Dhilan 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 Dhilan, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 27 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Dhilan
07142027199620102024

Decades

Dhilan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dhilan 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 #2601 41 5
2010s #1483 178 10
2000s #1836 96 10
1990s #2095 10 2

Related

Names similar to Dhilan

FAQ

Dhilan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Dhilan was ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.

When was Dhilan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 27 babies registered as Dhilan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Dhilan?

A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "innocent and peaceful".

How many people are called Dhilan in the UK?

A total of 325 babies have been registered as Dhilan across the 27 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.