UK boy's name
Onkar
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "divine sound or the primal vibration".
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.
Onkar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Onkar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 7 births.
This profile covers 77 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 76 living people in the UK are called Onkar. 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
- • Onkar ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 7 boys were registered as Onkar.
- • About 76 living people in the UK are estimated to have Onkar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2022
7 births
Estimated living
76
2026
Meaning
What does Onkar mean?
The name Onkar has its roots in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language originating from the Indian subcontinent. The word "Onkar" is derived from the sacred Hindu sound "Om," which is considered the primordial sound of the universe in Hindu philosophy.
Onkar is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "Om" and "Kar," where "Om" represents the divine, universal consciousness, and "Kar" means "to create" or "to manifest." Thus, the name Onkar signifies the manifestation or creation of the divine, reflecting the belief that all creation stems from the primordial sound of Om.
The name holds significant importance in Hindu scriptures, particularly the Upanishads, where the syllable "Om" is revered as the embodiment of the ultimate reality. The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the principal Upanishads, delves into the symbolic and spiritual significance of the syllable "Om," establishing its profound connection with the divine.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Onkar can be found in the ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas. In these sacred texts, the name is often associated with deities and spiritual figures, reflecting its sacred connotations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Onkar, including:
1. Onkar Singh (1882-1942), an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter who participated in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. 2. Onkar Nath Tiwari (1926-2018), an Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 3. Onkar Kulkarni (born 1981), an Indian cricket umpire and former cricketer who played domestic cricket for Maharashtra. 4. Onkar Ghate (born 1957), an Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. 5. Onkar Sahay (1907-1986), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.
The name Onkar has transcended its religious origins and has been adopted by people across various cultures and regions within India, symbolizing its enduring spiritual and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Onkar over time
The chart below shows babies named Onkar 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 Onkar, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Onkar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Onkar 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 | #3907 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3999 | 24 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2245 | 15 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2556 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Onkar
- Oliver 157,197
- Oscar 67,495
- Owen 33,517
- Ollie 13,193
- Oakley 9,838
- Omar 6,823
- Otis 6,395
- Oskar 4,827
- Olly 4,403
- Otto 3,839
- Osian 3,145
- Owain 2,310
FAQ
Onkar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Onkar in the UK right now?
In 2024, Onkar was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Onkar most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 7 babies registered as Onkar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Onkar?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "divine sound or the primal vibration".
How many people are called Onkar in the UK?
A total of 77 babies have been registered as Onkar across the 18 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.