UK girl's name
Vaishnavi
A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "vishnu", meaning the supreme being or divinity.
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.
Vaishnavi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Vaishnavi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 12 births.
This profile covers 163 England and Wales registrations across 25 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 162 living people in the UK are called Vaishnavi. 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
- • Vaishnavi ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 12 girls were registered as Vaishnavi.
- • About 162 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vaishnavi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2771
2024
Births in 2024
9
Latest year
Peak year
2016
12 births
Estimated living
162
2026
Meaning
What does Vaishnavi mean?
The name Vaishnavi is a Sanskrit name of Hindu origin, derived from the name of the Hindu god Vishnu. It is a feminine form of the masculine name Vishnu, which means "all-pervading" or "omnipresent." The name Vaishnavi is believed to have originated in ancient India, where Hinduism has its roots.
In Hindu mythology, Vishnu is one of the principal deities of the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Shiva. He is considered the preserver and protector of the universe, and is often depicted as having four arms, holding a conch shell, a chakra (disc), a mace, and a lotus flower. The name Vaishnavi is closely associated with Vishnu and is often used to refer to his female consorts or devotees.
The name Vaishnavi has been mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Puranas. It is believed to have been used as a name for women since ancient times, although the earliest recorded instances of the name are not clear.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women who bore the name Vaishnavi. One of the earliest recorded examples is Vaishnavi Devi, a 10th-century Hindu saint and mystic from Kashmir, who is revered for her devotional poetry and teachings.
Another notable Vaishnavi was Vaishnavi Dasi, a 16th-century Bengali poet and devotee of the Hindu god Krishna. Her works, which include devotional songs and verses, are still widely read and recited in Bengal.
In the 18th century, Vaishnavi Devi was a prominent figure in the Sikh community. She was the wife of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Sikh guru, and played a significant role in the establishment of the Khalsa Panth.
Vaishnavi Bai was a 19th-century Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who fought against the British rule in India. She was also known for her efforts to promote women's education and empowerment.
More recently, Vaishnavi Anantharaman was an Indian mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of string theory. She was born in 1954 and passed away in 2018.
These are just a few examples of notable women who have borne the name Vaishnavi throughout history. The name has a rich cultural and religious significance in Hinduism and continues to be popular among Hindu communities around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Vaishnavi over time
The chart below shows babies named Vaishnavi 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 Vaishnavi, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vaishnavi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vaishnavi 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 | #3378 | 34 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3288 | 72 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3077 | 53 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Vaishnavi
- Victoria 19,582
- Violet 14,594
- Vanessa 3,696
- Verity 3,437
- Valentina 2,969
- Vienna 2,077
- Vivienne 1,692
- Veronica 1,425
- Valerie 733
- Viktoria 696
- Vera 667
- Vivian 619
FAQ
Vaishnavi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vaishnavi in the UK right now?
In 2024, Vaishnavi was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Vaishnavi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 12 babies registered as Vaishnavi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vaishnavi?
A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "vishnu", meaning the supreme being or divinity.
How many people are called Vaishnavi in the UK?
A total of 163 babies have been registered as Vaishnavi across the 25 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.