UK girl's name
Rakhi
A feminine name of Hindu origin symbolizing the sacred bond between siblings.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rakhi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rakhi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Rakhi. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rakhi ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Rakhi.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rakhi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5707
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Rakhi mean?
The name Rakhi finds its origins in the Sanskrit language and Hindu culture. Derived from the Sanskrit word 'raksha', meaning 'protection', it is believed to have been in use since ancient times in the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rakhi can be found in Hindu mythology, where it is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara. In the epic Mahabharata, Rakhi is described as a beautiful dancer who entertained the gods.
During the medieval period, the name gained popularity as a reference to the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this occasion, sisters tie a sacred thread or 'rakhi' on their brothers' wrists as a symbol of love and protection.
One of the earliest historical figures known to have borne the name Rakhi was Rakhi Bai (1623-1675), a skilled courtesan and poet in the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Her collection of poems, known as 'Diwan-e-Rakhi', is still preserved and studied by scholars.
Another notable figure was Rakhi Devi (1805-1882), a prominent freedom fighter from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. She played a crucial role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, leading a group of women warriors against the British East India Company.
In more recent times, Rakhi Garhi (1939-2022) was a renowned Indian classical singer and Padma Shri awardee, known for her contributions to the Khyal style of Hindustani classical music.
Rakhi Sawant (born 1978) is a contemporary Indian dancer, actress, and reality TV personality, known for her outspoken and controversial persona in the Indian entertainment industry.
Rakhi Vijan (born 1975) is an Indian actress and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows, most notably in the popular series 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rakhi over time
The chart below shows babies named Rakhi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rakhi, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rakhi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rakhi 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 | #5707 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4516 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3810 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rakhi
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rakhi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rakhi in the UK right now?
In 2010, Rakhi was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rakhi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Rakhi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rakhi?
A feminine name of Hindu origin symbolizing the sacred bond between siblings.
How many people are called Rakhi in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Rakhi across the 5 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.