UK boy's name
Rushi
A unisex name of Indian origin meaning "light" or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rushi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rushi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3449, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 5 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2007 to 2017. 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.
Rushi is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Rushi. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rushi ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 5 boys were registered as Rushi.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rushi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3449
2017
Births in 2017
5
Latest year
Peak year
2017
5 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Rushi mean?
The given name Rushi has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages spoken in South Asia. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "rushi," which means "sage" or "seer." It is believed to have been a popular name among Hindus and Buddhists in ancient India.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rushi can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas, which date back to around 1500 BCE. In these texts, Rushi is often used as a title to refer to the sages or rishis who were the authors and preservers of the Vedic hymns and mantras.
During the Vedic period, several notable sages bore the name Rushi, including Rushi Agastya, who is credited with the composition of several Vedic hymns and is regarded as one of the seven great sages in Hindu mythology.
In Buddhist literature, the name Rushi is also mentioned in connection with the disciples of the Buddha. The Pali Canon, which is a collection of Buddhist scriptures, mentions a disciple named Rushi who was known for his wisdom and spiritual attainments.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Rushi. One of the earliest was Rushi Valmiki (c. 500 BCE), who is regarded as the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana, one of the most important literary works in the Sanskrit tradition.
Another significant figure was Rushi Kashyapa (c. 200 BCE), who was a renowned Hindu sage and the founder of the Kashyapa gotra, one of the most prominent Brahmin lineages in India.
In more recent times, Rushi Raj Arora (1954-2022) was an Indian writer and film director who was known for his works exploring themes of spirituality and existentialism.
Rushi Prasad (1921-2007) was an eminent Indian physicist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and served as the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University.
Rushi Kesh (born 1981) is a contemporary Indian classical vocalist and composer who has performed extensively both in India and abroad, promoting the rich traditions of Hindustani classical music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rushi over time
The chart below shows babies named Rushi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rushi, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rushi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rushi 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 | #3672 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4333 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rushi
- 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
Rushi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rushi in the UK right now?
In 2017, Rushi was ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Rushi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 5 babies registered as Rushi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rushi?
A unisex name of Indian origin meaning "light" or "bright".
How many people are called Rushi in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Rushi across the 3 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.