UK boy's name
Rishikesh
Lord of the senses, supreme being.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rishikesh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rishikesh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4678, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 6 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2003 to 2010. 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 18 living people in the UK are called Rishikesh. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rishikesh ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 6 boys were registered as Rishikesh.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rishikesh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4678
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
6 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Rishikesh mean?
The name Rishikesh has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language from the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have been in use since the Vedic period, which dates back to around 1500-500 BCE.
Rishikesh is a compound word derived from the Sanskrit words "rishi" meaning sage or seer, and "kesh" meaning hair or rays. The name is often interpreted to mean "Lord of the Sages" or "He whose hair is radiant."
In Hindu mythology, Rishikesh is a sacred city located in the foothills of the Himalayas, on the banks of the Ganges River. It is considered a revered place for spiritual seekers and has been mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, including the Rigveda, one of the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rishikesh can be found in the epic Hindu scripture, the Ramayana, which is dated around the 7th century BCE. In the text, Rishikesh is described as a place where the sage Vishwamitra had his ashram (a spiritual hermitage).
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rishikesh. One of the earliest was Rishikesh Shastri (1516-1619), a prominent scholar and poet from the Vijayanagara Empire in South India. He is known for his works in Sanskrit and Kannada literature.
Another famous bearer of the name was Rishikesh Mukherjee (1890-1963), an Indian writer, journalist, and philosopher who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and wrote extensively on Gandhian principles.
Rishikesh Ranade (1842-1901), a social reformer and educator from Maharashtra, India, was instrumental in promoting education for women and the downtrodden sections of society. He is remembered for his efforts in establishing schools and educational institutions.
In more recent times, Rishikesh Dasmunsi (1944-2017) was an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He served as a member of the Indian Parliament and held various ministerial positions in the central government.
Rishikesh Chandra Mukherjee (1842-1915) was a prominent Indian lawyer and jurist who served as a judge in the Calcutta High Court and was later appointed as a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rishikesh over time
The chart below shows babies named Rishikesh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rishikesh, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rishikesh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rishikesh 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 | #4678 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3547 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rishikesh
- 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
Rishikesh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rishikesh in the UK right now?
In 2010, Rishikesh was ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rishikesh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 6 babies registered as Rishikesh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rishikesh?
Lord of the senses, supreme being.
How many people are called Rishikesh in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Rishikesh across the 5 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.