UK boy's name
Mohan
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "great".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mohan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mohan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3478, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 6 births.
This profile covers 54 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1998 to 2016. 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Mohan. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mohan ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 6 boys were registered as Mohan.
- • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mohan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3478
2016
Births in 2016
5
Latest year
Peak year
2002
6 births
Estimated living
54
2026
Meaning
What does Mohan mean?
The name Mohan is derived from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. It is a combination of two words: "mo," meaning "great," and "han," meaning "to strike" or "to kill." The name essentially translates to "the great destroyer" or "the great conqueror."
In Hindu mythology, Mohan is one of the names attributed to Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Krishna was given this name because of his ability to conquer the hearts of people with his charm and divine love. The name is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mohan can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Mohan is mentioned as one of the names given to Krishna by his foster mother, Yashoda. The epic dates back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE, indicating the name's long-standing presence in Indian culture.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mohan. One such figure is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), the renowned leader of India's non-violent independence movement against British colonial rule. Gandhi, known as the "Father of the Nation" in India, was widely referred to as "Mohan" by his followers and fellow leaders.
Another prominent figure with the name Mohan was Mohan Singh (1909-1978), an Indian field hockey player who represented the country in three Olympic Games (1928, 1932, and 1936). He was part of the Indian hockey team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals during this period, cementing India's dominance in the sport.
Mohan Rakesh (1925-1972) was a renowned Hindi writer, novelist, and playwright. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Nai Kahani (New Story) literary movement in Hindi literature. His works, such as "Andhere Band Kama" and "Adhe Adhure," explored themes of existentialism and the human condition.
Mohan Lal (born 1960) is a celebrated Indian actor who has worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and versatile actors in the Indian film industry, having starred in over 300 films. Lal has received numerous accolades, including five National Film Awards and eight Kerala State Film Awards.
Mohan Rakesh Agashe (1912-1998) was an Indian classical singer and musicologist. He was a prominent exponent of the Gwalior gharana (style) of Hindustani classical music. Agashe made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical music through his performances, teachings, and scholarly works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mohan over time
The chart below shows babies named Mohan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mohan, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mohan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mohan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4156 | 15 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3272 | 34 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2074 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mohan
- 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
Mohan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mohan in the UK right now?
In 2016, Mohan was ranked #3478 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Mohan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 6 babies registered as Mohan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mohan?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "great".
How many people are called Mohan in the UK?
A total of 54 babies have been registered as Mohan across the 13 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.