UK girl's name
Kanika
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "the smallest one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kanika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kanika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 7 births.
This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Kanika. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kanika ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 7 girls were registered as Kanika.
- • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kanika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
7 births
Estimated living
47
2026
Meaning
What does Kanika mean?
The name Kanika has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was predominant in ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "kanak," which means gold or golden. The name is believed to have been in use as early as the 6th century BC during the Vedic period in India.
Kanika was a common name given to girls in Hindu families, particularly in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. The name was often associated with beauty, prosperity, and radiance, reflecting the cultural significance of gold in Indian society.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kanika can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Kanika was the name of a Naga princess, known for her beauty and courage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kanika. One of the earliest was Kanika, a 7th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer known for her contributions to the development of the Hindu calendar.
Another prominent figure was Kanika Devi, a 10th-century Indian ruler and warrior queen who governed the Kanika Kingdom in present-day Odisha, India. She was renowned for her military prowess and her patronage of arts and literature.
In the 12th century, Kanika was the name of a Sanskrit poet and scholar who authored several works on grammar and poetics. Her writings were influential in the literary circles of medieval India.
Moving forward to the 20th century, Kanika Mukherjee was an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. She was born in 1904 and dedicated her life to promoting women's rights and education.
Lastly, Kanika Kapoor is a contemporary Indian singer and songwriter, born in 1978, who has gained popularity for her versatile voice and contributions to Bollywood music.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Kanika, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and enduring presence across various eras and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kanika over time
The chart below shows babies named Kanika registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kanika, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kanika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kanika 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 | #5669 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5054 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4700 | 16 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3292 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kanika
- 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
Kanika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kanika in the UK right now?
In 2022, Kanika was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kanika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 7 babies registered as Kanika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kanika?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "the smallest one".
How many people are called Kanika in the UK?
A total of 47 babies have been registered as Kanika across the 13 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.