UK girl's name
Hemali
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "golden" or "adorned with gold".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hemali is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hemali popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 7 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2005. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Hemali. 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 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hemali ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2005, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 7 girls were registered as Hemali.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hemali as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3970
2005
Births in 2005
4
Latest year
Peak year
1999
7 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Hemali mean?
The name Hemali is believed to have its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that flourished in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "hema," which means "golden" or "radiant." This suggests that the name Hemali may have been initially used to describe someone with a golden complexion or a radiant personality.
In Hindu mythology, Hemali is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara. According to the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, Hemali was a beautiful apsara who was cursed by the sage Vishwamitra for her misdeeds. This early reference indicates that the name has been in use for centuries within the Indian cultural context.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hemali was a 10th-century Indian poet and scholar from Kashmir. Hemali, also known as Hemalakamala, was a renowned Sanskrit writer who authored several works on grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. Her contributions to Sanskrit literature have been widely recognized and studied over the years.
In the 16th century, Hemali was the name of a prominent courtesan and musician in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was renowned for her skill in singing and playing the veena, a plucked string instrument. Her performances were highly appreciated by the Mughal nobility, and she is mentioned in historical accounts of the time.
Another notable figure with the name Hemali was a 19th-century Indian social reformer and educationist from Bengal. Hemali Das was a pioneering figure in the movement for women's education and empowerment. She established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote the cause of female literacy in a time when it was not widely accepted.
In more recent times, Hemali Sodhi was an Indian actress and model who gained popularity in the 1990s. She appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows, showcasing her talent as a performer. Hemali Sodhi's fame brought renewed attention to the name in contemporary Indian culture.
While the name Hemali has its roots in ancient Sanskrit, it continues to be a popular choice among families across various regions of India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide. Its association with radiance, beauty, and cultural heritage has contributed to its enduring appeal over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hemali over time
The chart below shows babies named Hemali registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2005. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hemali, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2005, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hemali by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hemali 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4235 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2658 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Hemali
- 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
Hemali: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hemali in the UK right now?
In 2005, Hemali was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Hemali most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 7 babies registered as Hemali in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hemali?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "golden" or "adorned with gold".
How many people are called Hemali in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Hemali across the 5 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.