UK girl's name
Pallavi
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning a blossoming plant, a budding leaf.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pallavi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Pallavi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4634, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 27 living people in the UK are called Pallavi. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pallavi ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 5 girls were registered as Pallavi.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pallavi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4634
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Pallavi mean?
The name Pallavi has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the word "pallava," which means a fresh leaf, sprout, or bud, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.
The name Pallavi gained prominence during the classical period of Indian history, particularly in the realm of music. It was the name given to the opening verse or lines of a song or musical composition in the Hindustani and Carnatic classical music traditions. These opening lines set the tone and mood for the rest of the piece.
One of the earliest known references to the name Pallavi can be found in the Natya Shastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, written between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE. The text discusses the concept of Pallavi in the context of musical compositions.
In the 6th century CE, the renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidasa mentioned the name Pallavi in his works, using it as a metaphor for beauty and grace. This further popularized the name and associated it with artistic and literary excellence.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pallavi. One of the earliest was Pallavi Ranalukamalla (1055-1110 CE), a powerful ruler of the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty in present-day Karnataka, India. She was known for her patronage of arts and literature.
Another prominent figure was Pallavi Ghosh (1950-2017), an Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Patiala gharana. She was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to music.
Pallavi Subramanian (born 1979) is a contemporary Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her innovative approach to the Bharatanatyam dance form. She has performed extensively worldwide and received numerous accolades.
Pallavi Purkayastha (1984-2012) was an Indian lawyer and victim of a high-profile murder case that sparked discussions on women's safety in India. Her tragic death brought attention to the issue of violence against women.
Pallavi Shroff (born 1955) is a renowned Indian lawyer and managing partner of the prestigious law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. She is widely recognized for her expertise in corporate law and has been featured on several prestigious lists of influential women.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Pallavi over time
The chart below shows babies named Pallavi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Pallavi, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pallavi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pallavi 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 | #4634 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3873 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3027 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Pallavi
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Pallavi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pallavi in the UK right now?
In 2021, Pallavi was ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Pallavi most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 5 babies registered as Pallavi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pallavi?
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning a blossoming plant, a budding leaf.
How many people are called Pallavi in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Pallavi across the 7 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.