UK girl's name
Nalini
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lotus" or "water lily".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nalini is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nalini popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5061, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2002 to 2006. 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 Nalini. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nalini ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 3 girls were registered as Nalini.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nalini as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5061
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Nalini mean?
The name Nalini has its roots in the Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages that originated in ancient India. It is a feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "nalina," which means lotus flower. The lotus holds great significance in Hindu mythology and is revered as a symbol of purity, spiritual enlightenment, and divine beauty.
In Hindu scriptures, the name Nalini is sometimes associated with various goddesses and celestial beings. For instance, in the Puranas, Nalini is mentioned as one of the twenty-seven wives of the moon god Chandra. Additionally, the term "Nalini" is used as an epithet for the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, emphasizing her radiant and graceful nature.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nalini can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit literature, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and various Hindu epics. One of the most notable historical figures bearing this name was Nalini Devi, a prominent poet and author from Bengal, who lived in the early 20th century (1873-1938).
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have carried the name Nalini. These include Nalini Ghose (1900-1996), an Indian freedom fighter and activist who worked alongside Mahatma Gandhi; Nalini Kilankuvalappil (1968-2021), an Indian actress and dancer renowned for her contributions to Malayalam cinema; and Nalini Anantharaman (born 1976), a French mathematician and winner of the prestigious Fields Medal in 2022.
Another famous bearer of the name is Nalini Singh, a New Zealand author of contemporary romance and paranormal fiction, known for her bestselling Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series. Nalini Jaywant (1926-2010) was an Indian social worker and environmentalist who received the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her efforts in promoting ecological conservation.
The name Nalini has transcended its ancient Sanskrit origins and has been embraced across various cultures and regions, carrying with it the symbolic beauty and purity associated with the lotus flower. Its enduring presence in literature, mythology, and historical records attests to its timeless charm and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nalini over time
The chart below shows babies named Nalini registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nalini, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2006, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nalini by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nalini 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4599 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nalini
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nalini: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nalini in the UK right now?
In 2006, Nalini was ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nalini most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 3 babies registered as Nalini in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nalini?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lotus" or "water lily".
How many people are called Nalini in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Nalini 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.