UK boy's name
Nikhil
An Indian masculine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "whole," "entire," or "perfect.".
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.
Nikhil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nikhil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 70 births.
This profile covers 1,156 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,153 living people in the UK are called Nikhil. 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
- • Nikhil ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 70 boys were registered as Nikhil.
- • Nikhil ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
- • About 1,153 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nikhil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1758
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
1999
70 births
Estimated living
1,153
2026
Meaning
What does Nikhil mean?
The name Nikhil is of Indian origin and is derived from the Sanskrit word "Nikhila," which means "complete" or "entire." It is a popular name among Hindus and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to its bearer.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nikhil can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Vedas, which are among the oldest religious texts in the world. The name is mentioned in various Vedic hymns and mantras, suggesting its significance in Hindu culture and tradition.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Nikhil is Nikhil Chakrabarti, an Indian mathematician and author who lived in the 19th century. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and authored several books on the subject.
Another famous Nikhil in history is Nikhil Banerjee, an Indian classical musician who was a master of the sitar. He was born in 1931 and passed away in 1986. Banerjee was widely regarded as one of the greatest sitar players of his time and popularized Indian classical music globally.
Nikhil Kapur is a renowned Indian actor and film producer who has appeared in numerous Bollywood movies. He was born in 1981 and is known for his roles in films such as "Dil Chahta Hai," "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," and "Dostana."
Nikhil Chopra is an Indian artist and performance artist who has gained international recognition for his unique and thought-provoking works. He was born in 1974 and is known for his exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and cultural displacement through his art.
Nikhil Advani is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who has contributed significantly to the Hindi film industry. He was born in 1971 and has directed critically acclaimed movies like "Kal Ho Naa Ho," "Salaam-e-Ishq," and "Patiala House."
The name Nikhil has been popular among Indians for centuries and continues to be a widely chosen name for newborn boys. Its association with completeness and prosperity has made it a favored choice for parents seeking to bestow their children with blessings and good fortune.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nikhil over time
The chart below shows babies named Nikhil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Nikhil, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 70 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nikhil by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nikhil 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 | #1937 | 62 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1015 | 331 | 10 |
| 2000s | #509 | 541 | 10 |
| 1990s | #400 | 222 | 4 |
Geography
Where Nikhil is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nikhil. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Nikhil ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
Across the UK
Nikhil in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#687 in 2013
2 years of NRS records, 7 total registered
Related
Names similar to Nikhil
- 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
Nikhil: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nikhil in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nikhil was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Nikhil most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 70 babies registered as Nikhil in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nikhil?
An Indian masculine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "whole," "entire," or "perfect.".
How many people are called Nikhil in the UK?
A total of 1,156 babies have been registered as Nikhil across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7 more in Scotland.
Where is Nikhil most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Nikhil ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.