UK boy's name
Rahul
A masculine Hindu name meaning "conqueror of the universe".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rahul is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rahul popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 122 births.
This profile covers 1,243 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 3% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,237 living people in the UK are called Rahul. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rahul ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 122 boys were registered as Rahul.
- • Rahul ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #423 in 2001.
- • About 1,237 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rahul as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
1999
122 births
Estimated living
1,237
2026
Meaning
What does Rahul mean?
The given name Rahul has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the root for many modern Indian languages. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Raghul," which means "to be separated" or "to be free." This name has been in use for centuries, dating back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest references to the name Rahul can be found in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where it is mentioned as the name of a prince, the son of the legendary King Rama. In the Ramayana, Prince Rahul is described as a brave and virtuous young man, who accompanies his father on his journey to defeat the demon king Ravana.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Rahul. One of the earliest recorded examples is Rahul Sankrityayan (1893-1963), an Indian scholar, writer, and revolutionary who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was known for his extensive travels across Asia and his work in promoting Buddhist studies and literature.
Another prominent figure was Rahul Gandhi (born 1970), an Indian politician and former president of the Indian National Congress party. He is the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the grandson of Indira Gandhi, both prominent leaders in Indian politics.
In the field of sports, Rahul Dravid (born 1973) is a celebrated Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team from 1996 to 2012. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket and has been honored with numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the sport.
Rahul Bajaj (born 1938) is an Indian industrialist and former chairman of the Bajaj Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in India. He is known for his philanthropic efforts and has received several prestigious awards for his contributions to industry and society.
Rahul Yadav (born 1988) is an Indian entrepreneur and former CEO of the now-defunct e-commerce company Housing.com. He gained significant attention for his unconventional leadership style and controversial statements, which ultimately led to his resignation from the company.
The name Rahul has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, with variations and adaptations found in various languages and regions. It has become a popular name choice for parents worldwide, with its roots deeply embedded in the rich cultural heritage of South Asia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rahul over time
The chart below shows babies named Rahul registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rahul, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 122 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rahul by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rahul 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 | #3680 | 25 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1571 | 201 | 10 |
| 2000s | #457 | 690 | 10 |
| 1990s | #325 | 327 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rahul is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rahul. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rahul ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #423 in 2001.
Across the UK
Rahul in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#423 in 2001
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Rahul
-
Rahul Kohli
stage actor; actor; television actor; film actor
British actor
1985-
-
Rahul Potluri
epidemiologist
Indo-British scientist
1983-
-
Rahul Thakkar
American software inventor
Related
Names similar to Rahul
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rahul: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rahul in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rahul was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Rahul most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 122 babies registered as Rahul in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rahul?
A masculine Hindu name meaning "conqueror of the universe".
How many people are called Rahul in the UK?
A total of 1,243 babies have been registered as Rahul across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Rahul most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rahul ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #423 in 2001. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.