UK boy's name
Rikesh
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "radiant" or "shining".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rikesh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rikesh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4052, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 18 births.
This profile covers 53 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2006. 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 52 living people in the UK are called Rikesh. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rikesh ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 18 boys were registered as Rikesh.
- • About 52 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rikesh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4052
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
18 births
Estimated living
52
2026
Meaning
What does Rikesh mean?
The name Rikesh has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, with roots dating back to the Vedic period around 1500-500 BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "rik" meaning "praise" or "verse," and "isha" meaning "lord" or "master." The name can be interpreted to mean "Lord of Verses" or "Master of Praises."
In Hindu mythology, Rikesh is one of the names associated with the god Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. It is believed that the name was used to refer to Vishnu's ability to inspire devotional poetry and hymns in his honor. The name may have been used by ancient Sanskrit poets and scholars to pay homage to Vishnu and seek his blessings for their creative endeavors.
One of the earliest known references to the name Rikesh can be found in the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500-1000 BCE. The name appears in several hymns dedicated to various deities, including Vishnu and Indra.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Rikesh. One of the most famous was Rikesh Sharma (1932-2010), an Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee, renowned for his contributions to Hindustani music. Another notable Rikesh was Rikesh Chandra Dutt (1848-1909), a Bengali writer, historian, and civil servant who authored several works on ancient Indian literature and culture.
Other historical figures with the name Rikesh include Rikesh Ganguli (1856-1920), a Bengali author and playwright known for his satirical works, Rikesh Mukherjee (1910-1988), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly, and Rikesh Lal Meena (1918-1998), an Indian folk singer and musician from Rajasthan.
The name Rikesh continues to be used in India, particularly among Hindu communities, as a way to honor the cultural and religious traditions associated with its origins and meaning.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rikesh over time
The chart below shows babies named Rikesh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rikesh, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2006, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rikesh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rikesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3170 | 17 | 4 |
| 1990s | #1666 | 36 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rikesh
- 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
Rikesh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rikesh in the UK right now?
In 2006, Rikesh was ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rikesh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 18 babies registered as Rikesh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rikesh?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "radiant" or "shining".
How many people are called Rikesh in the UK?
A total of 53 babies have been registered as Rikesh across the 8 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.