NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kush

An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "kush", meaning happiness and joy.

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.

Kush is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kush 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 2015, with 34 births.

This profile covers 520 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 32% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 516 living people in the UK are called Kush. 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

  • Kush ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 34 boys were registered as Kush.
  • About 516 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kush 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

2015

34 births

Estimated living

516

2026

Meaning

What does Kush mean?

The name Kush has its origins in ancient India, originating from the Sanskrit word "kusha" meaning "blade of grass" or "sacred grass used in religious rituals." This name can be traced back to the Vedic period, around 1500-500 BCE, when it was commonly used among the Brahmin class and associated with spiritual practices.

In Hindu mythology, Kush was the name of one of the sons of Rama, the protagonist of the epic Ramayana. Kush, along with his brother Lava, were born to Rama's wife Sita during her exile in the forest. They were known for their devotion to their parents and their role in upholding dharma (righteous conduct).

The name Kush also has significance in ancient Persian culture. It was the name of a region in the northeastern part of the Persian Empire, which encompassed parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. The name Kush may have been derived from the Old Persian word "kusha," meaning "beautiful" or "pleasant."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kush was Kush ibn Shayban, an Arab poet and warrior who lived in the 7th century CE. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle, as well as his poetic talents.

In the 12th century, Kush was the name of a famous Muslim scholar and jurist, Kushyar ibn Labban. He was born in Nishapur, Iran, and was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his writings on theology and philosophy.

Another notable figure with the name Kush was Kush ibn Alwan, a 9th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He is credited with making significant contributions to the development of algebra and the study of celestial mechanics.

In the 16th century, Kush was the name of a famous Indian musician and composer, Kushna Khan. He was a court musician during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and is known for his contributions to the development of Indian classical music.

Kush was also the name of a 19th-century Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary, Kush Bagh. He was a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule and was known for his bravery and dedication to the cause of Indian independence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kush over time

The chart below shows babies named Kush 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 Kush, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 34 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kush
09172634199620102024

Decades

Kush by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kush 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 #1602 81 5
2010s #1221 230 10
2000s #1170 173 10
1990s #1503 36 4

Related

Names similar to Kush

FAQ

Kush: questions and answers

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

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

When was Kush most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 34 babies registered as Kush in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kush?

An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "kush", meaning happiness and joy.

How many people are called Kush in the UK?

A total of 520 babies have been registered as Kush across the 29 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.