NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Preet

A name of Sanskrit origin meaning love, affection, or desire.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 65 boys.

Preet is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Preet popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3598, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 17 births.

This profile covers 170 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1998 to 2023. 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 35% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 169 living people in the UK are called Preet. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Preet ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 17 girls were registered as Preet.
  • Preet is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 169 living people in the UK are estimated to have Preet as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.3% of Preet registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3598

2023

Births in 2023

6

Latest year

Peak year

2017

17 births

Estimated living

169

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Preet

In England and Wales birth records, Preet has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.7% of registrations are for boys and 72.3% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

28% boys
72% girls
Boys65 (27.7%)Girls170 (72.3%)

Preet registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2022
  • 3 boys registered in 2022
  • Peak: 2006 (6 births)

Preet registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,598 in 2023
  • 6 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2017 (17 births)

Meaning

What does Preet mean?

The name Preet has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical language of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "priya," meaning "beloved" or "dear." The name can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used as a term of endearment.

In the Vedas, which are the oldest Hindu scriptures, the name Preet is mentioned in various hymns and mantras. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500-1200 BCE.

Throughout the centuries, the name Preet has been borne by several notable figures in Indian history. One of the most famous was Preet Singh (1690-1734), a prominent military leader and warrior in the Sikh Empire during the early 18th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Sikh Empire under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Another historical figure with the name Preet was Preet Narain (1715-1775), a renowned poet and writer from the Mughal era. He was known for his contributions to Hindi literature and his works, which often celebrated love and devotion.

In more recent times, Preet Bharara (born 1968) is a former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, known for his high-profile cases against Wall Street executives and corruption.

Preet Kaur Gill (born 1972) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston since 2017. She is the first female Sikh MP in the UK Parliament.

Preet Kamal Kaur (born 1958) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her contributions to the Bharatanatyam dance form. She has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Government of India.

The name Preet continues to be popular among people of Indian descent, particularly in the Sikh and Hindu communities, as it represents a sense of love, affection, and endearment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Preet over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Preet in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Preet, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
05101520199820102023

Decades

Preet by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Preet 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 #3784 11 2
2010s #2669 101 10
2000s #3252 48 8
1990s #2816 10 2

Related

Names similar to Preet

FAQ

Preet: questions and answers

How popular is the name Preet in the UK right now?

In 2023, Preet was ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Preet most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 17 babies registered as Preet in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Preet?

A name of Sanskrit origin meaning love, affection, or desire.

How many people are called Preet in the UK?

A total of 170 babies have been registered as Preet across the 22 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.