UK girl's name
Kajal
A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "kajal", a cosmetic used to darken eyelids.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kajal is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kajal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3031, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 35 births.
This profile covers 193 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 192 living people in the UK are called Kajal. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kajal ranked #3031 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 35 girls were registered as Kajal.
- • About 192 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kajal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3031
2009
Births in 2009
7
Latest year
Peak year
1997
35 births
Estimated living
192
2026
Meaning
What does Kajal mean?
The name Kajal has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kajjala', which means 'collyrium' or 'kohl' - a black eye cosmetic traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent. The name emerged during the Vedic period, with references found in several Hindu scriptures and ancient texts.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kajal can be found in the Mahabharata, a revered Hindu epic dated between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this text, Kajal is described as a powerful and virtuous warrior princess, renowned for her bravery and beauty. The name gained further prominence during the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), when it was frequently bestowed upon noblewomen and royalty.
Throughout Indian history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kajal. One of the most celebrated was Kajal Devi, a 16th-century Rajput queen renowned for her patronage of the arts and her philanthropic endeavors. Another prominent figure was Kajal Rani, a 17th-century Maratha warrior queen who led her armies in several successful battles against the Mughal Empire.
In the realm of literature, Kajal Lakshmi was a revered 12th-century Sanskrit poet and scholar, credited with numerous works on philosophy and aesthetics. Her magnum opus, the Kajal Shastra, is considered a seminal text on the art of applying eye makeup and its symbolic significance in Hindu culture.
More recently, Kajal Aggarwal, born in 1985, is a celebrated Indian actress who has starred in numerous Bollywood and regional language films. She is widely regarded as a style icon and has been praised for her philanthropic work, particularly in supporting education and women's empowerment initiatives.
While the name Kajal has ancient roots in Indian culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its melodic quality and its association with beauty, strength, and grace – traits embodied by the many remarkable individuals who have borne this name throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kajal over time
The chart below shows babies named Kajal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kajal, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2009, compared with 35 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kajal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kajal 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 | #2825 | 80 | 10 |
| 1990s | #822 | 113 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kajal
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kajal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kajal in the UK right now?
In 2009, Kajal was ranked #3031 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Kajal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 35 babies registered as Kajal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kajal?
A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "kajal", a cosmetic used to darken eyelids.
How many people are called Kajal in the UK?
A total of 193 babies have been registered as Kajal across the 14 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.