NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Twinkle

A feminine name meaning a small, intermittent light that gleams or sparkles.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Twinkle is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Twinkle popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.

This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2006 to 2016. 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 8 living people in the UK are called Twinkle. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Twinkle ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 girls were registered as Twinkle.
  • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Twinkle as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

5 births

Estimated living

8

2026

Meaning

What does Twinkle mean?

The given name Twinkle is an English word that is commonly associated with the twinkling or sparkling of stars or lights. It is a relatively modern name, with its origins dating back to the 19th century in the English-speaking world.

One of the earliest recorded uses of Twinkle as a given name can be traced back to the late 19th century. In 1886, a novel titled "Twinkle's Circus Princess" by Edith Browne was published, featuring a character named Twinkle. This may have contributed to the name's popularity and its association with the idea of something bright and sparkling.

The name Twinkle gained further recognition through the popular English nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." This rhyme, with its origins dating back to the early 19th century, immortalized the word "twinkle" and may have inspired some parents to use it as a name for their children.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Twinkle was Twinkle Watts (1896-1982), an American actress and singer who appeared in various Broadway productions and films during the early 20th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Twinkle Khanna (born 1974), an Indian author, interior designer, and former actress. She is the daughter of famous Bollywood actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia.

In the literary world, Twinkle Lits (1918-1986) was a British children's author known for her books such as "The Little Wooden Horse" and "The Whispering Rabbit."

Twinkle Andress (born 1933) is a former American actress and model who gained international fame for her role as Honey Ryder in the James Bond film "Dr. No" in 1962.

Twinkle Shibanda (born 1989) is a Zimbabwean model and beauty queen who won the Miss Zimbabwe title in 2010 and represented her country at the Miss World competition.

While the name Twinkle may have started as a whimsical and playful moniker, it has been embraced by individuals across various cultures and backgrounds throughout the years, reflecting its association with brightness, joy, and a sparkling spirit.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Twinkle over time

The chart below shows babies named Twinkle registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Twinkle, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Twinkle
01345200620112016

Decades

Twinkle by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Twinkle 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 #5785 3 1
2000s #3548 5 1

Related

Names similar to Twinkle

FAQ

Twinkle: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Twinkle was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Twinkle most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Twinkle in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Twinkle?

A feminine name meaning a small, intermittent light that gleams or sparkles.

How many people are called Twinkle in the UK?

A total of 8 babies have been registered as Twinkle 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.