UK boy's name
Nilesh
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "blue lotus".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nilesh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nilesh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3822, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 to 2013. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Nilesh. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nilesh ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 boys were registered as Nilesh.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nilesh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3822
2013
Births in 2013
4
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Nilesh mean?
Nilesh is a Hindu masculine given name of Sanskrit origin. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "nila" meaning "blue" and "isha" meaning "lord". The name essentially translates to "lord of the blue" or "blue lord".
The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures from the Indian subcontinent, where it was often used to refer to the blue-skinned Hindu deity Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu in their various avatars and manifestations.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Nilesh was a 7th-century Hindu philosopher and religious scholar from the region of modern-day Maharashtra in India. He is credited with writing several influential treatises on Vedanta and Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
In the 11th century, there was a prominent Hindu king named Nilesh who ruled over parts of central India. He was known for his patronage of the arts and literature, as well as his military campaigns against neighboring kingdoms.
During the 16th century, a Hindu monk and spiritual leader named Nilesh gained a significant following in the region of Bengal. He is said to have played an important role in spreading the teachings of the Bhakti movement, which emphasized devotion and love for the divine.
In more recent times, one of the most notable figures to bear the name Nilesh was an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary named Nilesh Chandra Bose (1888-1924). He was a close associate of Subhash Chandra Bose and played an active role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
Another famous Nilesh was the Indian cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni (born 1974), who represented India in both Test and One Day International matches during the 1990s and early 2000s. He was a left-arm spinner and is remembered for his impressive performances against Pakistan and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nilesh over time
The chart below shows babies named Nilesh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nilesh, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2013, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nilesh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nilesh 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 | #4250 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3320 | 26 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2378 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nilesh
- 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
Nilesh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nilesh in the UK right now?
In 2013, Nilesh was ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nilesh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Nilesh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nilesh?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "blue lotus".
How many people are called Nilesh in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Nilesh across the 11 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.