UK boy's name
Mahadev
A masculine Hindu name meaning "great divine lord" or "supreme god".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mahadev is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahadev popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2013 to 2023. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Mahadev. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mahadev ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 boys were registered as Mahadev.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahadev as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Mahadev mean?
The name Mahadev has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the liturgical language of Hinduism. It is a compound word formed by combining the Sanskrit words "maha," meaning great, and "deva," meaning god or divine being. Consequently, the name Mahadev translates to "Great God" or "Supreme Deity."
This name finds its roots in Hindu mythology and is one of the many names used to refer to Lord Shiva, considered the Supreme Being and the transformer within the Trimurti (Hindu trinity) of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The name Mahadev has been mentioned in several ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and the epic Mahabharata.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahadev can be found in the Shiva Purana, an ancient Hindu text dedicated to Lord Shiva. This text, believed to have been composed between the 7th and 11th centuries CE, contains numerous references to Shiva as Mahadev, often in the context of his divine exploits and teachings.
Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the name Mahadev. One notable example is Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842-1901), a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer, and judge who played a pivotal role in the social and educational reforms of the 19th century in India.
Another individual of significance was Mahadev Desai (1892-1942), a close associate and personal secretary of Mahatma Gandhi. Desai played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement and was instrumental in recording and documenting Gandhi's thoughts and activities.
In the realm of literature, Mahadev Prasad Mishra (1892-1970) was a renowned Hindi poet, novelist, and playwright who made significant contributions to the Chhayavaad (Neo-romanticism) literary movement in Hindi literature.
The name Mahadev has also been associated with spiritual figures, such as Mahadev Bramhachari (1913-1969), a prominent Hindu monastic and spiritual leader who founded the Gayatri Pariwar organization, dedicated to the propagation of Vedic knowledge and practices.
Lastly, Mahadev Shekhawat (1926-2011) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and played an active role in the Indian independence movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mahadev over time
The chart below shows babies named Mahadev registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mahadev, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahadev by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahadev 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mahadev
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mahadev: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mahadev in the UK right now?
In 2023, Mahadev was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mahadev most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Mahadev in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mahadev?
A masculine Hindu name meaning "great divine lord" or "supreme god".
How many people are called Mahadev in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Mahadev across the 2 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.