UK girl's name
Pooja
An Indian feminine name meaning "worship" or "prayer".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pooja is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Pooja popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 35 births.
This profile covers 244 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1996 to 2016. 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 11% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 242 living people in the UK are called Pooja. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pooja ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 35 girls were registered as Pooja.
- • About 242 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pooja as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4763
2016
Births in 2016
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
35 births
Estimated living
242
2026
Meaning
What does Pooja mean?
The name Pooja is derived from the Sanskrit word "Puja," which means "reverence," "honor," or "worship." It is a name deeply rooted in the Hindu tradition and culture, originating in ancient India.
Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, has been the primary language of Hindu scriptures and religious texts for centuries. The word "Puja" is found in many ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, referring to the act of worship and offering prayers to deities.
The earliest recorded use of the name Pooja is believed to be around the 7th century CE. It gained popularity as a given name for girls in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions where Hinduism was widely practiced.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Pooja was Pooja Bhatt, an Indian actress, and filmmaker born in 1972. She is known for her work in critically acclaimed films such as "Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin" and "Zakhm."
Another prominent individual with the name Pooja is Pooja Misrra, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer born in 1971. She is renowned for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical dance forms, particularly Kathak.
Pooja Gandhi, born in 1980, is an Indian model and actress who has appeared in various Bollywood films and television shows. She is also known for her philanthropic work and advocacy for animal rights.
In the field of sports, Pooja Sahasrabudhe, born in 1984, is an Indian cricketer who has represented the Indian national women's cricket team. She is regarded as one of the most successful female cricketers in the country.
Pooja Vaidya, born in 1987, is an Indian classical vocalist renowned for her expertise in the Hindustani classical music tradition. She has performed in numerous concerts and music festivals across India and abroad.
While the name Pooja has its roots in Hindu culture and tradition, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now widely used across various communities and regions in India and other parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Pooja over time
The chart below shows babies named Pooja registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Pooja, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 35 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pooja by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pooja 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 | #5542 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2147 | 117 | 10 |
| 1990s | #815 | 114 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Pooja
-
Pooja Sharma
pharmacist
Hospital pharmacist
1986-2020
Related
Names similar to Pooja
- 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
Pooja: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pooja in the UK right now?
In 2016, Pooja was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Pooja most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 35 babies registered as Pooja in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pooja?
An Indian feminine name meaning "worship" or "prayer".
How many people are called Pooja in the UK?
A total of 244 babies have been registered as Pooja 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.