UK boy's name
Kapil
A masculine Indian Hindu name meaning "virtuous" or "illustrious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kapil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kapil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 9 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2001. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Kapil. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kapil ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 9 boys were registered as Kapil.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kapil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
9 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Kapil mean?
The name Kapil is believed to have originated from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language of South Asia. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "kapila," which means "reddish-brown" or "tawny." This name has been in use for centuries and can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Kapil can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a sage or rishi. According to Hindu mythology, Sage Kapil was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is credited with establishing the Samkhya philosophy, one of the oldest philosophical systems in India.
Another prominent figure associated with the name Kapil is Kapil Muni, a revered sage and the founder of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy. He is believed to have lived around the 6th century BCE and is considered one of the most influential thinkers in ancient Indian history.
In more recent times, the name Kapil gained popularity in India, and several notable individuals have borne this name. One of the most famous is Kapil Dev (born 1959), a legendary Indian cricketer who led the Indian cricket team to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket.
Another famous Kapil is Kapil Sibal (born 1948), an Indian lawyer, politician, and former Union Minister who has held several important portfolios in the Indian government, including those of Law and Justice, Communications and Information Technology, and Human Resource Development.
Kapil Sharma (born 1981) is a popular Indian stand-up comedian, actor, and television host known for his comedy show "The Kapil Sharma Show." He has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the Indian entertainment industry.
Other notable individuals with the name Kapil include Kapil Mohan (1962-2020), an Indian environmentalist and founder of the Eco-Task Force, and Kapil Mishra (born 1980), an Indian politician and former member of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kapil over time
The chart below shows babies named Kapil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kapil, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kapil by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kapil 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 | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #1940 | 24 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kapil
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kapil: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kapil in the UK right now?
In 2001, Kapil was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kapil most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 9 babies registered as Kapil in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kapil?
A masculine Indian Hindu name meaning "virtuous" or "illustrious".
How many people are called Kapil in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Kapil 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.