NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Sharmila

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "giver of happiness or joy".

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.

Sharmila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharmila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4688, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 10 births.

This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1997 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Sharmila. 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

  • Sharmila ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 10 girls were registered as Sharmila.
  • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharmila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4688

2010

Births in 2010

4

Latest year

Peak year

1997

10 births

Estimated living

39

2026

Meaning

What does Sharmila mean?

The name Sharmila has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is a compound word formed by combining the Sanskrit words "shram" meaning hard work or labor, and "ila" meaning the Earth or world. Together, Sharmila can be interpreted to mean "one who works hard on Earth" or "one who toils in this world".

This name has been in use in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, with records of its existence dating back to medieval times. It was a popular name among Hindus, and can be found mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, often associated with hardworking and diligent individuals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sharmila can be found in the 12th century Sanskrit text, the Kathasaritsagara, which is a collection of stories and fables. In this text, a character named Sharmila is described as a dedicated and virtuous woman.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Sharmila. In the 16th century, Sharmila Bai was a renowned poet and courtesan in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Her poetry and literary works were celebrated during her lifetime and continue to be studied and admired to this day.

Another famous Sharmila was Sharmila Rege, an Indian social activist and scholar who lived from 1963 to 2013. She was a prominent figure in the women's rights movement in India and worked tirelessly to promote gender equality and social justice.

Sharmila Tagore, born in 1946, is a celebrated Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and has also worked as a director and producer. She was the first Indian actress to be awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in recognition of her contributions to the arts.

In the field of literature, Sharmila Seyyid is a notable Indian author and poet. Born in 1976, she has written several critically acclaimed works that explore themes of identity, culture, and social issues. Her poetry has been widely published and has received numerous accolades.

Sharmila Nair, born in 1987, is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has made significant contributions to the art of Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest classical dance forms in India. She has performed extensively both nationally and internationally, and has been recognized for her talent and dedication to preserving and promoting this traditional art form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sharmila over time

The chart below shows babies named Sharmila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Sharmila, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2010, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sharmila
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Decades

Sharmila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharmila 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 #4688 4 1
2000s #3741 15 4
1990s #2379 20 3

Related

Names similar to Sharmila

FAQ

Sharmila: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Sharmila was ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Sharmila most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 10 babies registered as Sharmila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sharmila?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "giver of happiness or joy".

How many people are called Sharmila in the UK?

A total of 39 babies have been registered as Sharmila across the 8 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.