UK boy's name
Nakul
A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "munificent giver".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nakul is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nakul popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1998 to 2022. 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 12 living people in the UK are called Nakul. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nakul ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 boys were registered as Nakul.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nakul as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Nakul mean?
The name Nakul has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "nakula," which means "mongoose" or "ichneumon." This name first appeared in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where Nakula was one of the five Pandava brothers, the protagonists of the epic.
Nakula was the son of Madri, the second wife of Pandu, the king of Hastinapura. He was known for his exceptional skill in horse-riding and taming horses. In the Mahabharata, Nakula is described as being virtuous, righteous, and a skilled warrior. He played a crucial role in the great battle of Kurukshetra, where he fought alongside his brothers against their cousins, the Kauravas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nakul can be found in the Mahabharata itself, dating back to around the 8th century BCE. Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore this name.
Nakul Dutt (1892-1965) was an Indian playwright, director, and actor who made significant contributions to the theatre scene in the early 20th century. He founded the Hindustan Theatre in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and wrote several plays that explored social issues and themes.
Nakul Nath (1924-1991) was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India, from 1988 to 1989. He played a vital role in the Indian National Congress party and was known for his efforts in promoting social welfare programs.
Nakul Chandra Ghosh (1901-1978) was a renowned Bengali writer and poet from India. He was a prominent figure in the Bengali literary scene and is best known for his works that explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
Nakul Mahajan (born 1977) is an Indian actor and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. He gained popularity for his roles in films like "Dil Dhadakne Do" and "Housefull 3."
Nakul Dev Mahajan (born 1987) is an Indian cricketer who has played for the Indian national cricket team. He is a right-arm off-break bowler and has represented India in both Test and One Day International (ODI) matches.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nakul over time
The chart below shows babies named Nakul registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nakul, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nakul by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nakul 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2922 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nakul
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Nakul: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nakul in the UK right now?
In 2022, Nakul was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nakul most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Nakul in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nakul?
A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "munificent giver".
How many people are called Nakul in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Nakul across the 4 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.