UK girl's name
Kalina
A feminine given name of Slavic origin meaning "viburnum" or "guelder rose".
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.
Kalina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kalina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1672, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 30 births.
This profile covers 340 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 351 living people in the UK are called Kalina. 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
- • Kalina ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 30 girls were registered as Kalina.
- • Kalina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
- • About 351 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kalina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1672
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2016
30 births
Estimated living
351
2026
Meaning
What does Kalina mean?
The name Kalina has its roots in Slavic languages, originating from the Bulgarian word "kalina," which refers to the Viburnum plant, a genus of shrubs or small trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. This name has been in use since ancient times, with various spellings such as Kalyna, Kalena, and Kalinka.
In Bulgarian folklore, the Viburnum plant holds significant symbolism, often associated with beauty, strength, and resilience. The name Kalina is believed to have been inspired by the vibrant red berries of the Viburnum, which were sometimes used in traditional medicine and culinary practices.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kalina can be found in the epic poem "The Tale of Igor's Campaign," a 12th-century Russian literary work. In this poem, the name appears as a reference to a young woman, possibly a symbol of the motherland or a personification of nature's beauty.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Kalina. Kalina Jędrusik (1876-1949) was a Polish educator and author who wrote extensively on pedagogical methods and children's literature. Kalina Kravikovskaya (1860-1945) was a Russian philanthropist and social activist, known for her contributions to education and women's rights movements.
In the realm of the arts, Kalina Bamberski (1963-) is a Polish-French actress and director who has appeared in numerous films and theatrical productions. Kalina Malina (1994-) is a contemporary Bulgarian singer and songwriter, known for her powerful vocals and unique blend of pop and folk music.
Another notable figure is Kalina Stefanova (1978-), a Bulgarian volleyball player who represented her country in multiple Olympic Games and won several international championships, including the European Championship in 2007 and the World Grand Prix in 2012.
While the name Kalina has its roots in Slavic cultures, it has gained popularity across various regions, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries. The name continues to be celebrated for its connection to nature, symbolism, and the rich heritage of the Slavic peoples.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kalina over time
The chart below shows babies named Kalina registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Kalina, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kalina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kalina 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 | #2019 | 78 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1636 | 199 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2670 | 59 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Kalina is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kalina. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kalina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
Across the UK
Kalina in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
4 years of NRS records, 13 total registered
Related
Names similar to Kalina
- 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
Kalina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kalina in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kalina was ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Kalina most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 30 babies registered as Kalina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kalina?
A feminine given name of Slavic origin meaning "viburnum" or "guelder rose".
How many people are called Kalina in the UK?
A total of 340 babies have been registered as Kalina across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 13 more in Scotland.
Where is Kalina most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kalina ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #790 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.