UK boy's name
Kushal
An Indian masculine name meaning skilled, adept, or proficient.
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.
Kushal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kushal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 13 births.
This profile covers 170 England and Wales registrations across 24 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 169 living people in the UK are called Kushal. 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
- • Kushal ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 13 boys were registered as Kushal.
- • About 169 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kushal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
13 births
Estimated living
169
2026
Meaning
What does Kushal mean?
The name Kushal is derived from the Sanskrit language, originating in ancient India. It is believed to have been in use as early as the 5th century BCE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "kushal," which means "skilled," "proficient," or "well-versed." It is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, expertise, and excellence.
In Hindu mythology, the name Kushal is mentioned in various ancient texts and scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads. It is believed that the name was commonly used among the Brahmin community, who were known for their scholarly pursuits and expertise in various fields.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kushal can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Sanskrit epic dating back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE. In the epic, Kushal is mentioned as the name of a sage or a wise person.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kushal. One of the earliest recorded examples is Kushal Pal, a renowned Indian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 7th century CE. He is credited with contributing to the development of Indian astronomy and mathematics during the Gupta period.
Another notable figure was Kushal Singh, a Rajput ruler of the Sisodia dynasty who reigned in the 16th century CE. He was known for his military prowess and served as the ruler of the Mewar region in present-day Rajasthan, India.
In more recent times, Kushal Pal Singh (1901-1985) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played an active role in the Indian independence movement. He served as the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh from 1967 to 1968.
Kushal Konwar Sarma (1933-2016) was a renowned Assamese writer, poet, and dramatist from the Indian state of Assam. He made significant contributions to the literary world and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, one of the highest literary honors in India, in 1988.
Kushal Das (1913-1986) was an Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Khyal style of Hindustani classical music. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to music in 1971.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Kushal, reflecting its linguistic and cultural roots in ancient India and its association with qualities such as skill, expertise, and proficiency.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kushal over time
The chart below shows babies named Kushal 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 Kushal, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kushal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kushal 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 | #4189 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3582 | 43 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2096 | 79 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1303 | 40 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kushal
- 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
Kushal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kushal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kushal was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kushal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 13 babies registered as Kushal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kushal?
An Indian masculine name meaning skilled, adept, or proficient.
How many people are called Kushal in the UK?
A total of 170 babies have been registered as Kushal across the 24 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.