UK girl's name
Heela
A name of Arabic origin meaning "crescent moon" or "new moon".
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.
Heela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Heela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 9 births.
This profile covers 78 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2007 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 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 78 living people in the UK are called Heela. 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
- • Heela ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 9 girls were registered as Heela.
- • About 78 living people in the UK are estimated to have Heela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2013
9 births
Estimated living
78
2026
Meaning
What does Heela mean?
The given name Heela has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest Indo-European languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have emerged around the 2nd millennium BCE, during the Vedic period. The name Heela is derived from the Sanskrit word "hila," which means "calm" or "peaceful."
In Hindu mythology, Heela is mentioned as one of the names of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Parvati is revered as the embodiment of divine strength, beauty, and fertility. The name Heela is thought to represent her serene and tranquil nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heela can be found in the ancient Sanskrit text, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In this epic, Heela is mentioned as the name of a minor character, a princess from the kingdom of Virata.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Heela. One of the most famous was Heela Devi (1507-1586), a renowned poet and musician who lived during the Mughal era in India. Her compositions, known as Heela Raagas, are still celebrated for their spiritual depth and melodious beauty.
Another notable figure was Heela Satyanarayan (1823-1887), an Indian social reformer and educator who played a significant role in the promotion of women's education in the 19th century. She established several schools for girls in the city of Pune, India, and worked tirelessly to empower women through education.
In the realm of literature, Heela Srinivasan (1934-2013) was a celebrated Indian writer and translator. She was best known for her translations of ancient Tamil literature into English, making these works accessible to a global audience.
Heela Qureshi (1972-present) is a renowned Pakistani-British actress and writer. She has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including Gangs of London and Homeland. Qureshi is also an advocate for women's rights and has been vocal about issues affecting South Asian communities.
Lastly, Heela Wadia (1961-present) is an Indian businesswoman and the current chairperson of the Wadia Group, a prominent Indian conglomerate. She is recognized for her leadership skills and has been instrumental in diversifying the company's operations into various sectors.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Heela over time
The chart below shows babies named Heela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 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 Heela, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Heela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Heela 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 | #4042 | 26 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4448 | 36 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3667 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Heela
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Heela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Heela in the UK right now?
In 2024, Heela was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Heela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 9 babies registered as Heela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Heela?
A name of Arabic origin meaning "crescent moon" or "new moon".
How many people are called Heela in the UK?
A total of 78 babies have been registered as Heela across the 15 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.