NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Shiv

A Hindu masculine name meaning "auspicious one" or "the Adi-Deva".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shiv is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shiv popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #945, with 33 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 36 births.

This profile covers 679 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 92% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 674 living people in the UK are called Shiv. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shiv ranked #945 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 33 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 36 boys were registered as Shiv.
  • About 674 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shiv as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#945

2024

Births in 2024

33

Latest year

Peak year

2023

36 births

Estimated living

674

2026

Meaning

What does Shiv mean?

The name Shiv is of Hindu origin and is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shiva," which means "auspicious" or "propitious." Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, known as the Destroyer or the Transformer. The name Shiv is a shortened form of Shiva and is often used as a reference to the deity.

In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is revered as the Supreme Being who represents the cosmic forces of creation, preservation, and destruction. The name Shiv is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and has been mentioned in numerous ancient texts, including the Vedas, Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita.

The earliest recorded use of the name Shiv dates back to ancient India, where it was commonly used by Hindu families as a way to honor and invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva. Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shiv.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Shiv was Shivaji Bhonsle (1630-1680), a prominent Indian warrior king and the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He is revered as a hero and a symbol of resistance against the Mughal Empire.

Another notable figure was Shiv Kumar Batalvi (1936-1973), a celebrated Punjabi poet and writer who is considered one of the most influential literary figures in modern Punjabi literature. His works, such as "Loona" and "Piran da Paraga," explored themes of love, longing, and human emotions.

In the realm of music, Shiv Dayal Singh (1818-1878), better known as Tansen, was a legendary Indian classical vocalist and composer during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Indian history and is credited with establishing the Gwalior gharana (musical tradition).

Shiv Khera (born 1961) is a contemporary Indian author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. His self-help book, "You Can Win," has been a bestseller and has been translated into numerous languages, inspiring millions of readers worldwide.

Another notable figure is Shiv Naresh Teens (1926-1986), an Indian poet, and playwright who wrote extensively in Hindi and Urdu. He is recognized for his contributions to modern Hindi poetry and his efforts in promoting secularism and communal harmony through his literary works.

These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who have borne the name Shiv, a name that carries a rich cultural and spiritual significance in Hinduism and has been embraced by people across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shiv over time

The chart below shows babies named Shiv registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shiv, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 33 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shiv
09182736199620102024

Decades

Shiv by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shiv 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
2020s #1042 142 5
2010s #1046 275 10
2000s #1056 194 10
1990s #896 68 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Shiv

  • Shiv Pande

    television presenter; general practitioner

    British-Indian doctor and television presenter

    1938-

Related

Names similar to Shiv

FAQ

Shiv: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shiv was ranked #945 for boys in England and Wales, with 33 births registered.

When was Shiv most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 36 babies registered as Shiv in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shiv?

A Hindu masculine name meaning "auspicious one" or "the Adi-Deva".

How many people are called Shiv in the UK?

A total of 679 babies have been registered as Shiv across the 29 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.