UK boy's name
Ganesh
The Hindu elephant god, remover of obstacles.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ganesh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ganesh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 5 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1997 to 2015. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Ganesh. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ganesh ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 5 boys were registered as Ganesh.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ganesh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
5 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Ganesh mean?
The name Ganesh has its origins in the Sanskrit language and Hindu mythology. It is the name of the elephant-headed Hindu deity who is widely revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts, sciences, and intellect.
The name Ganesh is derived from the Sanskrit words "Gana" meaning a group of beings, and "Isha" meaning lord or master. Together, Ganesh means the Lord of the Ganas or the leader of the celestial troops. The name is also associated with the Sanskrit word "Ganapataye," which translates to the remover of obstacles.
Ganesh, also known as Ganapati or Vinayaka, has been mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas, Puranas, and the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The earliest known mention of Ganesh is in the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism, dated around 1500-1200 BCE.
The first recorded appearance of the name Ganesh can be traced back to the 4th or 5th century CE, during the Gupta period in India. This era is considered the classical age of Hindu culture, and Ganesh gained widespread popularity as a deity during this time.
Some notable historical figures with the name Ganesh include:
1. Ganesh Utsav (1893-1944), an Indian independence activist and social reformer who played a significant role in the Indian freedom movement. 2. Ganesh Pyne (1937-2022), an acclaimed Indian painter and artist known for his unique style and surrealistic depictions of human figures and animals. 3. Ganesh Naik (1914-1977), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as the Governor of Odisha and West Bengal in India. 4. Ganesh Saili (1937-2021), an Indian writer, historian, and educator who authored several books on the history and culture of the Himalayan region. 5. Ganesh Ghogre (1907-1964), an Indian classical vocalist and composer who was a prominent figure in the Hindustani music tradition.
The name Ganesh continues to hold immense cultural and religious significance in various parts of the world, particularly in India and regions with a significant Hindu population. It is a name that represents the principles of wisdom, prosperity, and overcoming obstacles, making it a popular choice for many families.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ganesh over time
The chart below shows babies named Ganesh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ganesh, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ganesh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ganesh 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 | #4747 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3258 | 19 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ganesh
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Ganesh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ganesh in the UK right now?
In 2015, Ganesh was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ganesh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 5 babies registered as Ganesh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ganesh?
The Hindu elephant god, remover of obstacles.
How many people are called Ganesh in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Ganesh across the 7 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.