UK girl's name
Priyanka
Of Sanskrit origin, meaning beloved or cherished one.
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.
Priyanka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Priyanka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 47 births.
This profile covers 468 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 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 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 465 living people in the UK are called Priyanka. 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
- • Priyanka ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 47 girls were registered as Priyanka.
- • About 465 living people in the UK are estimated to have Priyanka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
47 births
Estimated living
465
2026
Meaning
What does Priyanka mean?
The name Priyanka is derived from the Sanskrit language, originating in ancient India. It is a feminine name composed of the words "priya," meaning beloved or dear, and "anka," meaning a part or portion. Thus, the name Priyanka can be understood to mean "beloved one" or "dear one."
The name has its roots in Hindu mythology and culture, where it was often used to refer to goddesses or female deities. It is believed that the name first appeared in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, which date back to the 2nd millennium BCE.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Priyanka can be found in the epic poem Mahabharata, which is considered one of the longest and most influential works of Indian literature. In the Mahabharata, the name Priyanka is used to refer to the daughter of King Drupada.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Priyanka. One of the most famous is Priyanka Chopra, an Indian actress, singer, and film producer born in 1982. She is a former Miss World and has appeared in numerous Bollywood and Hollywood films, including "Baywatch" and "Isn't It Romantic."
Another well-known Priyanka is Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, an Indian politician born in 1972. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, and has served as a general secretary of the Indian National Congress party.
In ancient times, the name Priyanka was also associated with various Hindu goddesses and deities. One example is Priyanka Devi, a Hindu goddess associated with beauty, love, and fertility, who is often depicted as a consort of Lord Shiva.
Additionally, the name Priyanka has been mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads, further solidifying its historical and cultural significance in Indian literature and mythology.
It is worth noting that while the name Priyanka has its roots in Sanskrit and Hindu culture, it has gained popularity across different regions and cultures over time, with individuals from various backgrounds adopting the name for its beautiful meaning and rich historical connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Priyanka over time
The chart below shows babies named Priyanka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Priyanka, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 47 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Priyanka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Priyanka 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 | #4440 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3897 | 65 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1132 | 237 | 10 |
| 1990s | #640 | 156 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Priyanka
- 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
Priyanka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Priyanka in the UK right now?
In 2023, Priyanka was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Priyanka most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 47 babies registered as Priyanka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Priyanka?
Of Sanskrit origin, meaning beloved or cherished one.
How many people are called Priyanka in the UK?
A total of 468 babies have been registered as Priyanka across the 25 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.