UK girl's name
Vandana
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "salutation, prayer, adoration".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vandana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Vandana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Vandana is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Vandana. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vandana ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Vandana.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vandana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Vandana mean?
The name Vandana is derived from the Sanskrit language and has its origins in ancient India. It is a combination of the Sanskrit words "van" meaning "to praise" or "to welcome," and "dana" meaning "gift" or "offering." The name Vandana thus signifies "praise," "adoration," or "welcoming with reverence."
Vandana is a commonly used name in Hinduism and is often associated with various Hindu rituals and ceremonies. It is found in several ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas, where it is used to refer to acts of worship, reverence, and devotion towards the divine.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Vandana can be found in the Rig Veda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500-1200 BCE. The Rig Veda contains numerous hymns and verses that mention the act of "vandana" or praising the deities.
Throughout Indian history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vandana. One of the earliest recorded examples is Vandana Shiva (1952 - present), an Indian scholar, environmental activist, and author who has written extensively on the topics of ecology, sustainable agriculture, and women's rights.
Another prominent figure is Vandana Luthra (1944 - present), an Indian civil servant and the first woman to be appointed as the chairperson of the Staff Selection Commission of India in 2002.
In the field of literature, Vandana Shiva Shastri (1928 - 2003) was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to Sanskrit literature.
The name Vandana has also been associated with the performing arts. Vandana Vajpai (1930 - 2010) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 1992.
Lastly, Vandana Shiva Raje (1942 - present) is an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress party. She has served as a member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, representing the Gwalior constituency in Madhya Pradesh.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Vandana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vandana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Vandana
- 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
Vandana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vandana in the UK right now?
In 1996, Vandana was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Vandana most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Vandana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vandana?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "salutation, prayer, adoration".
How many people are called Vandana in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Vandana across the 1 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.