UK girl's name
Uma
A feminine Hindu name derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "flax" or "splendor".
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.
Uma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Uma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1262, with 26 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 30 births.
This profile covers 592 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 87% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 589 living people in the UK are called Uma. 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
- • Uma ranked #1262 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 26 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 30 girls were registered as Uma.
- • About 589 living people in the UK are estimated to have Uma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1262
2024
Births in 2024
26
Latest year
Peak year
2007
30 births
Estimated living
589
2026
Meaning
What does Uma mean?
Uma is a Hindu feminine given name of Sanskrit origin. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Uma" which means "light" or "splendor". The name has been prominently used in Hindu mythology and religious texts.
Uma is one of the many names of the Hindu goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu scriptures, Uma was born as the daughter of Himavat, the personification of the Himalayas, and the reincarnation of Sati, Shiva's first wife. Her name is mentioned in several sacred texts, including the Puranas and the Mahabharata.
The name Uma has been recorded throughout Indian history, with some notable figures bearing this name. Queen Uma Devi (1554-1612) was a prominent ruler of the Gajapati Empire in present-day Odisha, India. She is known for her contributions to literature, art, and architecture during her reign.
Uma Bharati (born 1959) is an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. She has been a Member of Parliament and has held several ministerial positions in the Indian government.
Uma Pemmaraju (1958-2017) was an Indian-American news anchor and journalist. She worked for various television networks, including Fox News and CNN, and was known for her coverage of major news events.
Uma Kunji Lal (1902-1944) was an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who participated in the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was involved in the Kakori Train Robbery case and was later executed by the British authorities.
Uma Maheswara Ugra Narasimha (1825-1898), also known as Uma Maheshwara, was a renowned Telugu poet and scholar from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He made significant contributions to Telugu literature and is considered one of the greatest poets of the Telugu language.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Uma. The name continues to be popular among Hindus, particularly in India and other parts of South Asia, as it carries cultural and spiritual significance rooted in Hindu traditions and mythology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Uma over time
The chart below shows babies named Uma 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 Uma, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 26 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Uma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Uma 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 | #1541 | 101 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1380 | 233 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1192 | 209 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1513 | 49 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Uma
-
Uma Goldsmith
aristocrat
born 2000; elder daughter of Zac Goldsmith and Sheherazade Ventura-Bentley
2000-
-
Uma Kumaran
politician
British politician
Related
Names similar to Uma
- Una 945
- Umaiza 556
- Umaymah 540
- Umme 508
- Ursula 481
- Umaima 407
- Uzma 370
- Umaimah 333
- Umayyah 238
- Umamah 231
- Urwa 200
- Ugne 189
FAQ
Uma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Uma in the UK right now?
In 2024, Uma was ranked #1262 for girls in England and Wales, with 26 births registered.
When was Uma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 30 babies registered as Uma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Uma?
A feminine Hindu name derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "flax" or "splendor".
How many people are called Uma in the UK?
A total of 592 babies have been registered as Uma 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.