UK girl's name
Renuka
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "a stream of golden light".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1999. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Renuka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Renuka popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1999 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3900, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 7 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 to 1999. 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 10 living people in the UK are called Renuka. 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 2000 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Renuka ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales in 1999, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 7 girls were registered as Renuka.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Renuka as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3900
1999
Births in 1999
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
7 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Renuka mean?
The name Renuka is derived from Sanskrit and has its origins in ancient Indian culture and Hindu mythology. It is believed to be a combination of the Sanskrit words "renu" meaning "dust" or "particle" and "ka" meaning "maker" or "creator."
One of the earliest known references to the name Renuka can be found in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where it is the name of the wife of the sage Jamadagni and the mother of the legendary warrior Parashurama. According to the epic, Renuka was known for her unwavering devotion and purity, and her story is often cited as an example of the virtues of wifely devotion and sacrifice.
In addition to its mythological significance, the name Renuka has been borne by several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Renuka Devi (c. 1501-1538), a queen and the second wife of the Rajput ruler Maharana Sangram Singh of Mewar.
Another prominent figure named Renuka was Renuka Narayanan (1835-1906), an Indian social reformer and educator who played a significant role in promoting women's education in the 19th century. She founded several schools and educational institutions for girls in South India.
In more recent times, Renuka Chowdhury (born 1954) is an Indian politician and former Union Minister in the Government of India. She served as the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture from 2004 to 2009.
Renuka Shahane (1963-2021) was an Indian actress who appeared in numerous Hindi and Marathi films and television shows. She was known for her versatile performances and won several awards throughout her career.
Renuka Krishnadevan (born 1962) is a Malaysian singer and songwriter who has been active in the music industry since the 1980s. She is considered a pioneer of the Malaysian rock music scene and has released numerous albums in various languages, including Tamil, Malay, and English.
While the name Renuka has its roots in Hindu mythology and ancient Indian culture, it has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries and has been embraced by people from various backgrounds worldwide, making it a name with a rich and diverse history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Renuka over time
The chart below shows babies named Renuka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 1999. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Renuka, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 1999, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Renuka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Renuka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2998 | 10 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Renuka
- 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
Renuka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Renuka in the UK right now?
In 1999, Renuka was ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Renuka most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 7 babies registered as Renuka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Renuka?
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "a stream of golden light".
How many people are called Renuka in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Renuka across the 2 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.