UK name, mostly boys
Rohan
A masculine Sanskrit name meaning "ascending" or "upward".
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.
Rohan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rohan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #260, with 180 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 334 births.
This profile covers 6,411 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 54% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6,841 living people in the UK are called Rohan. 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
- • Rohan ranked #260 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 180 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 334 boys were registered as Rohan.
- • Rohan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #239 in 2024.
- • About 6,841 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rohan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.7% of Rohan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#260
2024
Births in 2024
180
Latest year
Peak year
2004
334 births
Estimated living
6,841
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Rohan
In England and Wales birth records, Rohan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.7% of registrations are for boys and 0.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Rohan registered for boys
- Ranked #260 in 2024
- 180 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2004 (334 births)
Rohan registered for girls
- Ranked #3,197 in 2004
- 5 girls registered in 2004
- Peak: 1998 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Rohan mean?
The name Rohan has its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan tongue that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "rohana," which means "ascending" or "rising." This could suggest a connection to the rising sun or rising to greatness. The name was prominent in ancient India and can be found in various Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rohan is in the Mahabharata, a renowned Sanskrit epic that is a significant part of Hindu mythology. The epic features a character named Rohan, who was a prince from the kingdom of Kashi (modern-day Varanasi). This suggests that the name was in use in ancient India as early as the 8th or 9th century BCE, when the Mahabharata is believed to have been composed.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rohan. One of the most famous was Rohan Kanhai, a West Indian cricketer who played for the West Indies cricket team from 1957 to 1975. He was born in 1935 in British Guiana (now Guyana) and was known for his impressive batting skills and captaincy.
Another historical figure with the name Rohan was Rohan Gavaskar, an Indian cricketer and the son of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Rohan played for the Indian national team in the 1990s and was a talented opening batsman. He was born in 1976 and retired from international cricket in 2004.
In the field of literature, Rohan Dhawan was an Indian writer and poet who gained recognition for his works in both English and Hindi. He was born in 1948 and published several collections of poetry and novels, including "The Burnt Offering" and "The Chowringhee Poems." Dhawan passed away in 2021.
Another notable individual with the name Rohan was Rohan Bopanna, an Indian professional tennis player. Born in 1980, Bopanna has achieved success in both singles and doubles competitions, and he has represented India in numerous international tournaments, including the Olympics.
Lastly, Rohan Marley, the son of legendary Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley, is another well-known figure with the name Rohan. Born in 1972, Rohan Marley is a former football player and entrepreneur who has been involved in various business ventures, including the House of Marley audio electronics company.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Rohan, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rohan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rohan in England and Wales, 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 Rohan, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 180 births in 2024, compared with 334 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rohan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rohan 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 | #275 | 843 | 5 |
| 2010s | #218 | 2,479 | 10 |
| 2000s | #171 | 2,650 | 10 |
| 1990s | #271 | 439 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rohan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rohan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rohan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #239 in 2024.
Across the UK
Rohan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#278 in 2024
30 years of NRS records, 397 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#239 in 2024
19 years of NISRA records, 83 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rohan
- 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
Rohan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rohan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rohan was ranked #260 for boys in England and Wales, with 180 births registered.
When was Rohan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 334 babies registered as Rohan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rohan?
A masculine Sanskrit name meaning "ascending" or "upward".
How many people are called Rohan in the UK?
A total of 6,411 babies have been registered as Rohan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 397 more in Scotland and 83 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Rohan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rohan ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #239 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.