UK boy's name
Rakesh
A Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lord of wealth".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rakesh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rakesh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.
This profile covers 29 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 29 living people in the UK are called Rakesh. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rakesh ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 boys were registered as Rakesh.
- • About 29 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rakesh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
6 births
Estimated living
29
2026
Meaning
What does Rakesh mean?
The name Rakesh is of Sanskrit origin and has its roots in the ancient Indian language. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'raksha,' which means 'to protect' or 'to preserve.' The name is believed to have originated during the Vedic period in ancient India, which dates back to around 1500-500 BCE.
In Hindu mythology, the name Rakesh is associated with Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu is revered as the preserver and protector of the universe, and his name is often invoked for protection and safety. The name Rakesh is also mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rakesh can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, there is a character named Rakshasa, which is a variant spelling of Rakesh. Rakshasa was a powerful demon king who fought against the Pandavas, the protagonists of the Mahabharata.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rakesh. One of the most famous was Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot and the first Indian to travel to space. He was born in 1949 and flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 in 1984, becoming the first Indian to set foot in space.
Another notable Rakesh was Rakesh Roshan, an Indian film actor, producer, and director. He was born in 1949 and is best known for his work in Bollywood movies like Karan Arjun, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, and Krrish. He has also directed several successful films and is considered a prominent figure in the Indian film industry.
Rakesh Khurana is an Indian-American academic and the current Dean of Harvard College. He was born in 1967 and is known for his contributions to the field of organizational behavior and leadership studies. He has authored several books and has been recognized for his research and teaching.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was an Indian billionaire investor and trader, often referred to as the "Warren Buffett of India." He was born in 1960 and made his fortune through stock trading and investments. He was a prominent figure in the Indian financial sector and was known for his philanthropic efforts.
Rakesh Sharma, the Indian Air Force pilot who traveled to space, was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, in 1985 for his achievement. This recognition highlights the significance of his feat and the pride it brought to the nation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rakesh over time
The chart below shows babies named Rakesh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rakesh, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rakesh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rakesh 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3934 | 9 | 3 |
| 1990s | #1867 | 17 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Rakesh
- 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
Rakesh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rakesh in the UK right now?
In 2020, Rakesh was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rakesh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Rakesh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rakesh?
A Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lord of wealth".
How many people are called Rakesh in the UK?
A total of 29 babies have been registered as Rakesh across the 7 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.