NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Rishan

A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "great devotee".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rishan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rishan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 14 births.

This profile covers 175 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 174 living people in the UK are called Rishan. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rishan ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 14 boys were registered as Rishan.
  • About 174 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rishan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2009

14 births

Estimated living

174

2026

Meaning

What does Rishan mean?

The name Rishan has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, which was spoken in India and other parts of South Asia. The name is believed to have emerged around the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period of Indian history. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "rishi," which means "sage" or "seer." The name Rishan was likely given to individuals who were respected for their wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.

In Hindu mythology, the Rishis were revered as the ancient sages and seers who received and transmitted the sacred knowledge contained in the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. The name Rishan may have been used to honor these wise and enlightened beings or to bestow their qualities upon the bearer of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rishan can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It mentions a character named Rishan, who was a sage and adviser to the Pandava princes. This reference dates back to around the 4th century BCE, indicating the antiquity of the name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Rishan. Rishan Bharadwaj, who lived in the 7th century CE, was a renowned scholar and philosopher from ancient India. He was known for his teachings on logic, metaphysics, and the nature of reality.

Another prominent individual with the name Rishan was Rishan Khan, a 16th-century Mughal military commander who served under the emperors Akbar and Jahangir. He was renowned for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield.

In the realm of literature, Rishan Khatri was a 17th-century Punjabi poet and mystic who wrote extensively on spiritual themes and the pursuit of divine love. His works continue to be celebrated and studied to this day.

During the 18th century, Rishan Singh was a prominent leader of the Sikh military order, known as the Khalsa. He played a crucial role in the resistance against the Afghan invaders and the defense of the Sikh homeland in Punjab.

In more recent times, Rishan Singh Bedi was a distinguished Indian diplomat and author who served as India's Ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union, in the mid-20th century.

While the name Rishan has its roots in ancient India, it has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, with bearers of this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rishan over time

The chart below shows babies named Rishan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Rishan, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rishan
0471114199620102024

Decades

Rishan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rishan 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 #2563 43 5
2010s #2492 87 10
2000s #2938 36 6
1990s #2357 9 2

Related

Names similar to Rishan

FAQ

Rishan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rishan was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Rishan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 14 babies registered as Rishan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rishan?

A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "great devotee".

How many people are called Rishan in the UK?

A total of 175 babies have been registered as Rishan across the 23 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.