NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Reka

A Hungarian feminine name derived from the river name "Reka".

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.

Reka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Reka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 6 births.

This profile covers 42 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2006 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 42 living people in the UK are called Reka. 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

  • Reka ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 6 girls were registered as Reka.
  • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5493

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2013

6 births

Estimated living

42

2026

Meaning

What does Reka mean?

The name Reka finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "reka," which means "line" or "streak." The name gained popularity in regions where Sanskrit was spoken and studied, particularly in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reka can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE. In this ancient text, Reka is mentioned as the name of a minor character, although details about their role or significance are scarce.

In the realm of historical figures, the name Reka has been associated with several notable individuals throughout various periods. One such figure is Reka Kushan, a ruler of the Kushan Empire in the 2nd century CE. Reka Kushan is credited with expanding the empire's territories and promoting cultural and economic prosperity during her reign.

Another prominent individual bearing the name Reka was Reka Devi, a 16th-century queen consort of the Vijayanagar Empire in South India. Reka Devi was known for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the arts, particularly in the field of architecture and temple construction.

In the realm of literature, the name Reka has been associated with the 19th-century Bengali poet Reka Chandra Dutta. Born in 1837, Reka Chandra Dutta was a notable figure in the Bengal Renaissance movement and contributed significantly to the development of modern Bengali poetry.

Moving into the 20th century, Reka Chakraborty was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1917 to 1998. She played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the traditional dance forms of Odissi and Chhau, and her contributions to the field of dance were widely recognized and celebrated.

It is worth noting that while the name Reka has its roots in Sanskrit and ancient Indian culture, it has been embraced and adopted in various forms across different regions and cultures over time. The name's meaning and significance may have evolved or been reinterpreted in different contexts, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and adaptation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Reka over time

The chart below shows babies named Reka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Reka, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Reka
02356200620132020

Decades

Reka by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reka 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 #5493 3 1
2010s #5186 29 8
2000s #4942 10 3

Related

Names similar to Reka

FAQ

Reka: questions and answers

How popular is the name Reka in the UK right now?

In 2020, Reka was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Reka most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 6 babies registered as Reka in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Reka?

A Hungarian feminine name derived from the river name "Reka".

How many people are called Reka in the UK?

A total of 42 babies have been registered as Reka across the 12 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.