UK boy's name
Panav
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "prince" or "rising sun".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Panav is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Panav popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 3 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2010 to 2019. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Panav. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Panav ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 3 boys were registered as Panav.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Panav as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
3 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Panav mean?
The name Panav finds its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, tracing back to around the 3rd century BCE in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "panava," which means "pure" or "virtuous." This name was commonly used among the Brahmin caste in regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Panav can be found in the ancient Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata. It is mentioned as the name of a sage who was renowned for his wisdom and spiritual teachings. This association with a revered figure in Hindu mythology likely contributed to the name's popularity and positive connotations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Panav. One such figure was Panav Vishnu Shastri (1554-1623), a celebrated Sanskrit scholar and poet from the Mughal era. His works, including the epic poem "Panav Ramayana," were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and philosophical depth.
In the 17th century, Panav Narayan Bhatt (1637-1719) was a prominent astronomer and mathematician from Varanasi. His contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and his treatise on the motion of planets were highly influential during that time.
Another notable individual was Panav Chand Nahar (1791-1865), a renowned educator and social reformer from Punjab. He established several schools and worked tirelessly to promote education, particularly for girls, in a period when access to education was limited.
In more recent times, Panav Dhawan (1926-2002) was a distinguished Indian diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Nations. He played a crucial role in shaping India's foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century.
The name Panav has maintained its cultural significance and has been carried forward by individuals across various fields, contributing to its enduring legacy and association with virtues like purity, wisdom, and excellence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Panav over time
The chart below shows babies named Panav registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Panav, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Panav by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Panav 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 | #4738 | 18 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Panav
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Panav: questions and answers
How popular is the name Panav in the UK right now?
In 2019, Panav was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Panav most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 3 babies registered as Panav in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Panav?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "prince" or "rising sun".
How many people are called Panav in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Panav across the 6 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.