UK boy's name
Dhillon
A masculine name of Indian Punjabi origin meaning "wanderer" or "nomad".
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.
Dhillon is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dhillon popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 13 births.
This profile covers 227 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 46% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 225 living people in the UK are called Dhillon. 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
- • Dhillon ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 13 boys were registered as Dhillon.
- • About 225 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dhillon as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2004
13 births
Estimated living
225
2026
Meaning
What does Dhillon mean?
The name Dhillon has its origins in the Punjab region of South Asia, spanning parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Dhill," which means "brave" or "courageous." The name can be traced back to the ancient Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BC to 500 BC.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, there are references to warriors and kings with the name Dhillon or variations of it. One notable mention is of a king named Dhillipa, who ruled over a kingdom in the present-day Haryana region of India during the 5th century BC.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dhillon can be found in inscriptions and historical records from the Gupta Empire, which ruled over much of northern India between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. During this period, the name was associated with valor and strength, and it was often given to those born into warrior families or those who displayed exceptional courage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dhillon. One of the most famous was Dhillon Bhatti (1465-1529), a Rajput warrior and chieftain who fought against the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. His bravery and resistance against the Mughals earned him a legendary status in the region.
Another prominent figure was Dhillon Singh (1666-1714), a Sikh warrior and devotee of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. Dhillon Singh played a crucial role in the Battle of Muktsar in 1705, where he fought alongside the Guru against the Mughal forces.
In more recent times, Dhillon has been the name of several influential individuals, such as Dhillon Khosla (1910-1994), a renowned Indian economist and policymaker, and Dhillon Panjabi (1926-2001), a celebrated Indian actor and comedian known for his work in Punjabi cinema and theater.
Dhillon has also been the name of several athletes, including Dhillon Dosanjh (born 1988), a Canadian professional wrestler, and Dhillon Weeraratne (born 1990), a Sri Lankan cricketer who has represented his country in international matches.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dhillon over time
The chart below shows babies named Dhillon 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 Dhillon, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dhillon by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dhillon 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 | #3510 | 27 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2834 | 70 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1778 | 97 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1623 | 33 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Dhillon
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dhillon: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dhillon in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dhillon was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Dhillon most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 13 babies registered as Dhillon in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dhillon?
A masculine name of Indian Punjabi origin meaning "wanderer" or "nomad".
How many people are called Dhillon in the UK?
A total of 227 babies have been registered as Dhillon across the 29 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.