NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Khush

A Hindu/Sanskrit name meaning happy, joyful, or contented.

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.

Khush is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Khush popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 14 births.

This profile covers 191 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. 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 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 190 living people in the UK are called Khush. 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

  • Khush ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 14 boys were registered as Khush.
  • About 190 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khush as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2016

14 births

Estimated living

190

2026

Meaning

What does Khush mean?

The given name Khush has its origins in the Persian and Urdu languages, tracing back to the 16th century or earlier. It derives from the Persian word "khush" meaning happiness, joy, or delight. The name was initially popular among Persian and Urdu speakers in regions such as Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of the Indian subcontinent.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Khush can be found in the Persian poetry of the 16th century poet, Amir Khusrow Dehlavi. His works, which celebrated the beauty of love and life, often mentioned the word "khush" as a descriptor for joy and pleasure.

In the 17th century, Khush emerged as a given name among the Mughal rulers of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure was Khushdil Khan, a prominent Mughal courtier and military commander who served under Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century.

During the 18th century, the name gained popularity in the Punjabi region, particularly among Sikhs. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Khushal Singh, a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the struggle against the Afghan Durrani Empire in the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, the name Khush was adopted by various communities across the Indian subcontinent, including Hindus, Muslims, and Parsis. One notable figure was Khushwant Singh, an Indian novelist, journalist, and historian who lived from 1915 to 2014 and was known for his witty and candid writing style.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Khushwant Lal, an Indian freedom fighter, and politician who lived from 1902 to 1988. He was a leading figure in the Indian National Congress and played an active role in the struggle for India's independence.

In the 20th century, the name Khush continued to be popular among various communities in South Asia and the Middle East. One notable figure was Khushwant Singh Bhatia, an Indian businessman, and philanthropist who lived from 1918 to 2005 and was known for his contributions to the education sector.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Khush over time

The chart below shows babies named Khush registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Khush, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Khush
0471114199820112024

Decades

Khush by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khush 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 #2244 48 5
2010s #2307 97 10
2000s #2537 43 6
1990s #2901 3 1

Related

Names similar to Khush

FAQ

Khush: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Khush was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Khush most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 14 babies registered as Khush in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Khush?

A Hindu/Sanskrit name meaning happy, joyful, or contented.

How many people are called Khush in the UK?

A total of 191 babies have been registered as Khush across the 22 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.