UK boy's name
Dilshan
A masculine name of Sinhalese origin meaning "belonging to the island".
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.
Dilshan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dilshan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2006 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Dilshan. 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
- • Dilshan ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 4 boys were registered as Dilshan.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dilshan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2015
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Dilshan mean?
The name Dilshan has its origins in the Sinhala language, which is one of the official languages of Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words "Dil" meaning heart or mind, and "Shaan" meaning glory or pride. The combination of these words suggests that the name Dilshan carries the meaning of "one with a glorious heart or mind."
Historically, the name Dilshan has been predominantly used in Sri Lanka and among the Sinhala community. It is a relatively modern name, with records of its usage dating back to the late 19th or early 20th century. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language, which has had a significant influence on Sinhala culture and literature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dilshan can be found in the writings of the renowned Sri Lankan author and playwright, Ediriweera Sarachchandra, who was born in 1914. Sarachchandra's works often featured characters with traditional Sinhala names, including Dilshan.
In more recent times, the name Dilshan gained widespread recognition due to the Sri Lankan cricketer, Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was born in 1976. Dilshan had a successful international cricket career, representing Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game. He is particularly renowned for his innovative batting style and his ability to score runs quickly.
Another notable figure with the name Dilshan is Dilshan Dissanayake, a Sri Lankan actor and musician born in 1984. He has appeared in several popular Sinhala television series and films and is also known for his work as a playback singer in the Sri Lankan music industry.
In the field of politics, Dilshan Gunathilaka is a prominent name. Born in 1982, he is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who later ventured into politics and currently serves as a Member of Parliament.
Dilshan Wirasiri, born in 1976, is a notable Sri Lankan author and poet. His works often explore themes of identity, culture, and the human experience, and he has received numerous accolades for his contributions to Sinhala literature.
While the name Dilshan is predominantly associated with Sri Lanka and the Sinhala community, it has also gained some recognition internationally, particularly among the Sri Lankan diaspora communities around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dilshan over time
The chart below shows babies named Dilshan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Dilshan, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dilshan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dilshan 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4456 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4052 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Dilshan
- 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
Dilshan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dilshan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Dilshan was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Dilshan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 4 babies registered as Dilshan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dilshan?
A masculine name of Sinhalese origin meaning "belonging to the island".
How many people are called Dilshan in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Dilshan across the 5 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.