UK boy's name
Santosh
A masculine Hindu name meaning contentment, happiness, peace, and calmness.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Santosh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Santosh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 5 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1999 to 2018. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Santosh. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Santosh ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 5 boys were registered as Santosh.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Santosh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
5 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Santosh mean?
The name Santosh originates from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language of India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "santosha," which means contentment, satisfaction, or pleasure. The name has been in use in India for centuries, particularly among Hindu communities.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Santosh can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads. These sacred texts often referred to the concept of "santosha" as a virtue and a state of mind to be cultivated through spiritual practices and self-discipline.
In the 12th century CE, a notable figure named Santosh Bhatt, a renowned Hindu philosopher and scholar, wrote extensively on the concept of "santosha" and its significance in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. His works influenced the propagation of the name among Hindu communities across India.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Santosh. One of the earliest recorded examples is Santosh Kumar Ghose (1876-1963), an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
Another prominent figure with the name was Santosh Singh (1944-2013), an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, a state in northern India. He played a crucial role in the development and governance of the state during his tenure.
In the field of literature, Santosh Srivastava (1934-2018) was a renowned Hindi poet, novelist, and essayist. He received numerous awards and accolades for his literary contributions, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995.
Santosh Anand (1933-2005) was a celebrated Indian classical singer and composer, known for her expertise in the Khyal and Thumri genres of Hindustani classical music. She received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
Santosh Yadav (born 1968) is a retired Indian mountaineer and was the first woman from India to summit Mount Everest twice, in 1992 and 1993. She has received numerous awards and honors for her achievements in mountaineering, including the Arjuna Award and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Santosh throughout history, reflecting its deep cultural and linguistic roots in the Indian subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Santosh over time
The chart below shows babies named Santosh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Santosh, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Santosh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Santosh 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 | #4704 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3158 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Santosh
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Santosh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Santosh in the UK right now?
In 2018, Santosh was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Santosh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 5 babies registered as Santosh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Santosh?
A masculine Hindu name meaning contentment, happiness, peace, and calmness.
How many people are called Santosh in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Santosh 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.