UK girl's name
Shilpa
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "graceful" or "skilled".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shilpa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shilpa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5545, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2008. 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 18 living people in the UK are called Shilpa. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shilpa ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 girls were registered as Shilpa.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shilpa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5545
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
6 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Shilpa mean?
The name Shilpa has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is the classical language of ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "shilp" which means "art" or "craft". The name can therefore be interpreted to mean "artisan" or "skilled worker".
In ancient Indian texts and scriptures, the term "shilpa" was used to refer to various forms of art, architecture, sculpture, and handicrafts. The name Shilpa thus carries a connotation of creativity, skill, and artistic expression.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shilpa can be found in the Rigveda, one of the four sacred canonical texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500-1200 BCE. In the Rigveda, the word "shilpa" is mentioned in reference to the craftsmanship of the gods and their creations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shilpa. One of the earliest recorded was Shilpa, a 7th-century Indian sculptor and architect who is credited with the design and construction of the famous Kailasanath temple in Ellora, Maharashtra, India.
In the realm of literature, Shilpa Bhattacharya (1938-2016) was a renowned Bengali novelist and short story writer from India, known for her works that explored the lives and struggles of middle-class women.
Shilpa Shetty (born 1975) is a well-known Indian actress, model, and entrepreneur who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. She has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavors.
Shilpa Gupta (born 1976) is a contemporary Indian artist known for her installations and multimedia works that address themes of censorship, violence, and power structures. Her works have been exhibited in various international art exhibitions and museums.
Shilpa Raizada (born 1978) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her expertise in the Kathak dance form. She has performed extensively both in India and abroad, and has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the art form.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shilpa over time
The chart below shows babies named Shilpa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shilpa, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shilpa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shilpa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5115 | 9 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3099 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shilpa
- 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
Shilpa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shilpa in the UK right now?
In 2008, Shilpa was ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shilpa most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Shilpa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shilpa?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "graceful" or "skilled".
How many people are called Shilpa in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Shilpa 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.