UK girl's name
Rashmi
Feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning rays of light or sunbeams.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rashmi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rashmi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 7 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1999 to 2011. 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 43% 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 Rashmi. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rashmi ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 7 girls were registered as Rashmi.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rashmi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
7 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Rashmi mean?
The name Rashmi has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "rashmih," which means "ray of light" or "sunbeam." The name is believed to have been in use since the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period of Indian history.
Rashmi is a popular Hindu name, often given to girls born during the auspicious period of sunrise or sunset. In Hindu mythology, the name is associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. It is believed that children named Rashmi will bring radiance and positivity into the lives of their families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rashmi can be found in the ancient Sanskrit text, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Rashmi is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph who served the gods. The name also appears in various Hindu scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads, further solidifying its cultural and religious significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rashmi. One of the earliest recorded examples is Rashmi Arora (1920-2005), an Indian writer and poet who was known for her works in Hindi literature. Another prominent figure is Rashmi Desai (1948-2012), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the Kathak dance form.
In the field of politics, Rashmi Mayur Thackeray (born 1980) is an Indian politician and the granddaughter of the late Bal Thackeray, the founder of the Shiv Sena political party. Rashmi Mehta (born 1965) is an Indian businesswoman and entrepreneur who co-founded the popular e-commerce platform, Fabindia.
Rashmi Sadana (born 1967) is a renowned Indian-American historian and scholar who has written extensively on gender, technology, and postcolonial studies. Her work has shed light on the intersections of culture, modernity, and identity in South Asia.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Rashmi throughout history, each making significant contributions in their respective fields and carrying forward the radiant essence of this ancient Sanskrit name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rashmi over time
The chart below shows babies named Rashmi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rashmi, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rashmi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rashmi 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 | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3287 | 10 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rashmi
- 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
Rashmi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rashmi in the UK right now?
In 2011, Rashmi was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rashmi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 7 babies registered as Rashmi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rashmi?
Feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning rays of light or sunbeams.
How many people are called Rashmi in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Rashmi across the 4 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.