NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ishar

A Hindu masculine name from Sanskrit meaning ruler or lord.

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.

Ishar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ishar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 6 births.

This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1997 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Ishar. 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

  • Ishar ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 6 boys were registered as Ishar.
  • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ishar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2019

6 births

Estimated living

38

2026

Meaning

What does Ishar mean?

The name Ishar has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ishvara," which means "Lord" or "Supreme Being." This name is closely associated with Hindu mythology and religious texts.

In the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, Ishar is mentioned as a name for the supreme deity, often associated with the god Indra or Shiva. The name was also used in the Upanishads, a collection of philosophical and spiritual texts that form the foundation of Hindu thought.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ishar dates back to the 6th century BCE, when it was mentioned in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Ishar was the name of a sage who imparted wisdom and guidance to the Pandava princes.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ishar. One of the most famous was Ishar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891), a Bengali polymath and a key figure in the Bengali Renaissance. He was a renowned scholar, educator, and social reformer who played a pivotal role in the movement to abolish the practice of Sati (widow burning) in India.

Another prominent figure was Ishar Singh Majithia (1882-1963), a Punjabi politician and freedom fighter who played an active role in India's struggle for independence from British rule. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and was instrumental in shaping the country's constitution.

In the realm of literature, Ishar Kapur (1912-1994) was a celebrated Punjabi writer, poet, and playwright. His works, such as "Andhera Natak" and "Saakhi Saroor Naal," explored themes of social injustice, human relationships, and the complexities of modern life.

In the field of music, Ishar Jalil (1933-2017) was a prominent Bangladeshi lyricist and composer. He wrote numerous songs that became popular across South Asia, and his contributions to the cultural heritage of Bangladesh earned him the prestigious Ekushey Padak, one of the highest civilian honors in the country.

Ishar Kaushik (1954-2022) was an Indian film actor and playwright who made significant contributions to the Hindi theatre and cinema. He is best known for his performances in acclaimed plays like "Andha Yug" and films such as "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" and "Dil Se."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ishar over time

The chart below shows babies named Ishar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Ishar, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ishar
02356199720102024

Decades

Ishar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ishar 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 #4487 14 4
2010s #3746 14 3
2000s #3534 7 2
1990s #2859 3 1

Related

Names similar to Ishar

FAQ

Ishar: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Ishar was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ishar most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 6 babies registered as Ishar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ishar?

A Hindu masculine name from Sanskrit meaning ruler or lord.

How many people are called Ishar in the UK?

A total of 38 babies have been registered as Ishar across the 10 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.