NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Kesar

A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "saffron" or "flower".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 3 boys.

Kesar is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kesar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2006 to 2017. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Kesar. 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 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kesar ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 girls were registered as Kesar.
  • Kesar is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kesar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 75.0% of Kesar registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5765

2017

Births in 2017

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

3 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Kesar

In England and Wales birth records, Kesar has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 25.0% of registrations are for boys and 75.0% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

25% boys
75% girls
Boys3 (25.0%)Girls9 (75.0%)

Kesar registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,608 in 2020
  • 3 boys registered in 2020
  • Peak: 2020 (3 births)

Kesar registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,765 in 2017
  • 3 girls registered in 2017
  • Peak: 2006 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Kesar mean?

The given name Kesar originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture, dating back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kesara," which means "saffron" or "a bright orange-yellow color." It is believed to be associated with the vibrant hue of the saffron flower, which holds significant cultural and religious significance in India.

Historically, the name Kesar has been prominently featured in various ancient Indian texts and literary works. One notable reference is found in the epic Sanskrit poem "Raghuvamsa" by the celebrated poet Kalidasa, who lived during the 4th-5th century CE. In this work, the name Kesar is mentioned in the context of describing the radiant beauty of a character.

The earliest recorded instances of individuals bearing the name Kesar can be traced back to the medieval era in India. One notable figure was Kesar Kashmiri, a 16th-century Sufi poet and mystic from the Kashmir region, renowned for his spiritual compositions and devotional poetry.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the name Kesar. In the 18th century, Kesar Singh Chhibber was a revered Sikh scholar and historian who authored the renowned work "Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian Ka," chronicling the lives of the ten Sikh gurus.

Another noteworthy figure was Kesar Singh Labana, a 19th-century Sikh warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the Sikh-Afghan wars and the defense of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

In more recent times, Kesar Singh Thakur was an eminent Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from the early 20th century, known for his contributions to the Indian independence movement and his efforts to uplift underprivileged communities.

The name Kesar has also been associated with literary and artistic figures. Kesar Parwani was a renowned Kashmiri poetess from the 17th century, celebrated for her lyrical compositions and mastery of the Kashmiri language.

These are just a few examples of prominent individuals who have borne the name Kesar throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and linguistic significance in the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kesar over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kesar in England and Wales, from 2006 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kesar, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
01223200620132020

Decades

Kesar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kesar 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
2010s #5748 6 2
2000s #5061 3 1

Related

Names similar to Kesar

FAQ

Kesar: questions and answers

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

In 2017, Kesar was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kesar most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Kesar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kesar?

A feminine name of Hindi origin meaning "saffron" or "flower".

How many people are called Kesar in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Kesar across the 3 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.