UK girl's name
Malini
A Hindu feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "jasmine flower".
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.
Malini is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Malini popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1997 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Malini. 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
- • Malini ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 girls were registered as Malini.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malini as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Malini mean?
The name Malini has its origins in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. It is derived from the word "malina," which means "dirty" or "impure." The name is believed to have originated during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
In Hindu mythology, Malini is mentioned as the name of a female devotee who was known for her unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu. She is said to have been born in a poor family but was blessed with divine grace due to her purity of heart and dedication to spiritual practices.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malini can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic dating back to around the 8th century BCE. The name is mentioned in the context of a princess who was renowned for her beauty and intelligence.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Malini. One of the most famous was Malini Awasthi (1917-2003), an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in India's independence movement. She was imprisoned multiple times for her participation in the struggle against British colonial rule.
Another prominent figure with the name Malini was Malini Bhattacharya (1888-1983), a pioneering Indian female scholar and educator. She was one of the first women to receive a Master's degree from the University of Calcutta and went on to establish several educational institutions for women in Bengal.
In the field of performing arts, Malini Feras (1930-2007) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was instrumental in popularizing the Bharatanatyam dance form and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 1986.
Malini Chib (born 1973) is a contemporary Indian author and screenwriter. Her debut novel, "One Little Finger," received critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 2004.
Malini Parthasarathy (born 1945) is an Indian journalist and editor who has worked for several prominent publications, including The Hindu and The Indian Express. She is widely respected for her insightful political commentary and has received numerous awards for her contributions to journalism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Malini over time
The chart below shows babies named Malini registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Malini, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malini by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malini 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 | #4843 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5742 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3441 | 9 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Malini
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Malini: questions and answers
How popular is the name Malini in the UK right now?
In 2024, Malini was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Malini most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Malini in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Malini?
A Hindu feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "jasmine flower".
How many people are called Malini in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Malini across the 5 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.