NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Muskan

A Hindu name meaning "gentle smile" or "sweet fragrance".

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.

Muskan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Muskan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 28 births.

This profile covers 351 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1999 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 349 living people in the UK are called Muskan. 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

  • Muskan ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 28 girls were registered as Muskan.
  • About 349 living people in the UK are estimated to have Muskan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2000

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2010

28 births

Estimated living

349

2026

Meaning

What does Muskan mean?

Muskan is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "muskān," which means "a smile" or "to smile." The name has been in use for centuries, particularly in the northern regions of India, such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Muskan can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Mughal Empire in India. It is believed that the name was popularized during this period, as the Mughals had a strong influence on Indian culture and language.

In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas, the word "muskān" is often used to describe the divine smile of deities and goddesses. This association with divinity and beauty may have contributed to the name's popularity.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Muskan was Muskan Begum, a 17th-century Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. She was known for her intelligence and literary talents.

Another notable figure was Muskan Ali Khan, an 18th-century Nawab (ruler) of the princely state of Rampur in northern India. He was renowned for his patronage of arts and architecture, and his reign saw the construction of several magnificent buildings and gardens.

In the 19th century, Muskan Jehan Begum was a prominent poet and courtesan in the royal court of Lucknow, known for her contributions to Urdu literature and her influential literary salon.

During the Indian independence movement, Muskan Fatima was a prominent activist and freedom fighter. She played a significant role in the Quit India Movement and was imprisoned multiple times for her involvement in the struggle against British rule.

In more recent times, Muskan Bano was a renowned classical dancer and choreographer from India, who dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the traditional dance forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam.

While the name Muskan has its roots in Indian culture and history, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities around the world, transcending its linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Muskan over time

The chart below shows babies named Muskan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Muskan, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 28 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Muskan
07142128199920112024

Decades

Muskan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Muskan 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 #2606 53 5
2010s #2299 124 9
2000s #1428 169 10
1990s #2770 5 1

Related

Names similar to Muskan

FAQ

Muskan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Muskan was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Muskan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 28 babies registered as Muskan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Muskan?

A Hindu name meaning "gentle smile" or "sweet fragrance".

How many people are called Muskan in the UK?

A total of 351 babies have been registered as Muskan across the 25 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.