UK girl's name
Durga
A Hindu feminine name meaning "impassable, invincible, the divine Mother.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Durga is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Durga popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2013 to 2017. 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 13 living people in the UK are called Durga. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Durga ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 girls were registered as Durga.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Durga as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Durga mean?
The name Durga has its origins in Hinduism and is derived from the Sanskrit word 'durg', which means fortress or impregnability. Durga is a prominent Hindu goddess, regarded as the mother of the universe and the fierce form of the mother goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.
The earliest references to the name Durga can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Devi Mahatmya, a part of the Markandeya Purana, which dates back to around the 5th or 6th century CE. In these texts, Durga is described as a powerful deity who vanquished the Buffalo Demon Mahishasura and protected the universe from evil forces.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Durga is found in the Kannada inscriptions of the Western Ganga Dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka and Tamil Nadu between the 4th and 11th centuries CE. The name appears in inscriptions referring to temples dedicated to the goddess during this period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Durga. One of the earliest known was Durga Shakthi (c. 7th century CE), a Tamil mystic saint and poet who composed devotional hymns in praise of the goddess Durga. Another prominent figure was Durga Devi (c. 16th century), a Rajput queen and warrior who fought against the Mughal Empire and is celebrated for her bravery and leadership.
In more recent times, Durga Prasad Mishra (1910-1998) was an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 1965 to 1967. Durga Khote (1905-1991) was a renowned Indian actress who appeared in over 200 films and is considered one of the pioneers of Indian cinema.
Additionally, Durga Shakti Nagpal (born 1984) is an Indian civil servant who gained national recognition for her efforts in cracking down on illegal mining and land mafias in Uttar Pradesh. These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Durga throughout history, reflecting its significance in Hindu culture and tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Durga over time
The chart below shows babies named Durga registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Durga, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Durga by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Durga 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5490 | 13 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Durga
- 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
Durga: questions and answers
How popular is the name Durga in the UK right now?
In 2017, Durga was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Durga most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Durga in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Durga?
A Hindu feminine name meaning "impassable, invincible, the divine Mother.".
How many people are called Durga in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Durga 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.