UK girl's name
Shikha
A feminine Indian given name meaning "point" or "summit".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shikha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shikha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 6 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2010 to 2014. 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 9 living people in the UK are called Shikha. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shikha ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 6 girls were registered as Shikha.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shikha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5691
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
6 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Shikha mean?
The name Shikha has its origins in the Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages of the Indian subcontinent. It dates back to ancient times, with its earliest recorded use found in Hindu scriptures and texts.
The word "Shikha" in Sanskrit means "crest," "peak," or "summit," often referring to the tuft of hair left on the top of the head during certain Hindu rituals or ceremonies. This association with spiritual practices and traditions gives the name a significant cultural significance.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Shikha can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Shikha was the name of a sage who imparted wisdom and teachings to the Pandava princes, the central characters of the story.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shikha. One of the most prominent was Shikha Sharma (born 1958), an Indian banker who served as the Managing Director and CEO of Axis Bank from 2009 to 2018, making her one of the few women to lead a major Indian bank.
Another notable Shikha was Shikha Pandey (born 1989), an Indian cricketer who played for the Indian women's national cricket team and represented India in various international tournaments, including the Women's Cricket World Cup.
In the field of literature, Shikha Malaviya (born 1969) is a renowned Indian poet, writer, and journalist who has published several collections of poetry and received numerous awards for her literary contributions.
Shikha Talsania (born 1981) is an Indian actress known for her roles in various Bollywood films and television shows, including the popular sitcom "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai."
Shikha Kapur (born 1983) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has performed and taught Kathak, one of the major classical dance forms of India, both nationally and internationally.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Shikha throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shikha over time
The chart below shows babies named Shikha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shikha, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shikha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shikha 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 | #4612 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shikha
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Shikha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shikha in the UK right now?
In 2014, Shikha was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shikha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 6 babies registered as Shikha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shikha?
A feminine Indian given name meaning "point" or "summit".
How many people are called Shikha in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Shikha across the 2 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.