UK boy's name
Harshan
An Indian masculine name meaning "delightful" or "joyous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Harshan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Harshan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2011 to 2022. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Harshan. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Harshan ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 boys were registered as Harshan.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harshan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
4 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Harshan mean?
The name Harshan is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit language. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE in the Indian subcontinent.
The name Harshan is composed of two Sanskrit words: "Harsha" and "Shan." "Harsha" means joy, happiness, or delight, while "Shan" is a suffix indicating a person's quality or nature. Therefore, the name Harshan can be interpreted as "one who brings joy" or "the embodiment of happiness."
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, there are references to the concept of "Harsha" as a spiritual state of blissful awareness and inner tranquility. The name Harshan may have been bestowed upon individuals who were believed to possess a joyful and serene nature.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Harshan was a renowned Indian poet and scholar who lived during the 7th century CE. Harshan was a prominent figure in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition and authored several influential works, including the Nishvasa Tattva Samhita and the Kharana Rahasyam.
Another notable figure in history with the name Harshan was a Buddhist monk and scholar from the 12th century CE. He was a prolific writer and is credited with composing the Harsha Charita, a biography of the powerful Pushyabhuti dynasty ruler, King Harsha.
In the 14th century CE, Harshan Nath was a revered Hindu saint and mystic from the Nath tradition. He is believed to have attained a high state of spiritual enlightenment and is renowned for his teachings on the path of self-realization.
During the 16th century CE, Harshan Das was a celebrated poet and composer from the Braj region of northern India. He is renowned for his devotional compositions, known as "Harshanas," which were dedicated to the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna.
In more recent times, Harshan Panth was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who lived from 1882 to 1955. He was a staunch advocate for the rights of marginalized communities and played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Harshan over time
The chart below shows babies named Harshan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Harshan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harshan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harshan 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 | #4001 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4321 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Harshan
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Harshan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Harshan in the UK right now?
In 2022, Harshan was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Harshan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Harshan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Harshan?
An Indian masculine name meaning "delightful" or "joyous".
How many people are called Harshan in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Harshan across the 3 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.