NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Gagan

A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sky" or "heaven".

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.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 13 girls.

Gagan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Gagan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.

This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 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 22 living people in the UK are called Gagan. 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

  • Gagan ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 boys were registered as Gagan.
  • Gagan is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gagan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.9% of Gagan registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4812

2017

Births in 2017

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

4 births

Estimated living

22

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Gagan

In England and Wales birth records, Gagan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 62.9% of registrations are for boys and 37.1% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

63% boys
37% girls
Boys22 (62.9%)Girls13 (37.1%)

Gagan registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,812 in 2017
  • 3 boys registered in 2017
  • Peak: 1996 (4 births)

Gagan registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,838 in 2012
  • 4 girls registered in 2012
  • Peak: 2012 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Gagan mean?

The name Gagan has its origins in Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "gagana," which means "sky" or "heaven." The name is predominantly found in the Indian subcontinent and is associated with Hinduism.

The name Gagan can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas. In these sacred scriptures, the word "gagana" is often used to represent the celestial realm and the vastness of the universe. It is believed that the name was given to children in the hope that they would embody the qualities of the sky, such as vastness, purity, and clarity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gagan can be found in the epic poem Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a warrior. In the 7th century CE, Gagan was the name of a renowned Sanskrit scholar and grammarian who wrote extensively on the rules of Sanskrit grammar.

Throughout history, the name Gagan has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Gagan Vihari Mehta (1905-1988), an Indian independence activist and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India. Another prominent figure was Gagan Narang (born 1983), an Indian shooter who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Other noteworthy individuals with the name Gagan include Gagan Ajit Singh (1892-1957), an Indian aviator and the first Indian to obtain a pilot's license in 1911; Gagan Khanna (born 1980), an Indian actress known for her work in Bollywood films; and Gagan Thapa (born 1980), a Nepalese politician and former Minister of Health.

While the name Gagan is primarily associated with the Indian subcontinent, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among the Indian diaspora. However, its deep-rooted connection to Sanskrit and Hindu culture remains an integral part of its meaning and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Gagan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Gagan in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Gagan, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02468199620062017

Decades

Gagan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gagan 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 #4482 10 3
2000s #3197 8 2
1990s #2357 4 1

Related

Names similar to Gagan

FAQ

Gagan: questions and answers

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

In 2017, Gagan was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gagan most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Gagan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gagan?

A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sky" or "heaven".

How many people are called Gagan in the UK?

A total of 22 babies have been registered as Gagan across the 6 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.