UK girl's name
Neena
An Indian feminine name meaning "beautiful lady".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Neena is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Neena popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 12 births.
This profile covers 61 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 61 living people in the UK are called Neena. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Neena ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 12 girls were registered as Neena.
- • About 61 living people in the UK are estimated to have Neena as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2009
12 births
Estimated living
61
2026
Meaning
What does Neena mean?
The name Neena is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages. The name is derived from the word "Neena," which means "praise" or "admiration." It is a name that has been in use for centuries, particularly in the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Neena can be found in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. It is mentioned in the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, which is believed to have been composed between 1500 and 1000 BCE. In the Rigveda, the name Neena is associated with the goddess of speech and learning, Vāk.
Throughout history, the name Neena has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded examples is Neena, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 7th century CE. Her works, which focused on Sanskrit grammar and poetry, were highly influential in her time and are still studied today.
Another notable figure with the name Neena was Neena Gupta, an Indian actress and director born in 1959. She is best known for her roles in critically acclaimed films such as "Badhaai Ho" and "Mulk." Gupta has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to Indian cinema.
In the field of Indian classical music, Neena Shyam, born in 1935, was a celebrated Hindustani classical vocalist. She was honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India's highest honor in the performing arts, in 1992.
Neena Kulkarni, born in 1958, is a renowned Indian author and journalist. She has written several novels and non-fiction works, exploring themes of feminism, social issues, and Indian culture. Her book "Sahitya Akademi Award" won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2006.
Neena Bhandari, born in 1940, was an Indian social activist and women's rights advocate. She played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Indian women's rights movement and worked tirelessly to promote education, health, and economic empowerment for women in India.
The name Neena has a rich cultural heritage and a long history, rooted in the ancient Sanskrit language and Indian traditions. It has been borne by many notable individuals throughout the centuries, who have made significant contributions in various fields, including literature, performing arts, journalism, and social activism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Neena over time
The chart below shows babies named Neena registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Neena, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neena by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Neena 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 | #4528 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3546 | 34 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2992 | 14 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Neena
- 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
Neena: questions and answers
How popular is the name Neena in the UK right now?
In 2018, Neena was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Neena most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 12 babies registered as Neena in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Neena?
An Indian feminine name meaning "beautiful lady".
How many people are called Neena in the UK?
A total of 61 babies have been registered as Neena across the 12 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.