UK boy's name
Varun
A masculine Hindu name meaning "water" or "ocean".
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.
Varun is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Varun popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 25 births.
This profile covers 382 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 379 living people in the UK are called Varun. 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
- • Varun ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 25 boys were registered as Varun.
- • About 379 living people in the UK are estimated to have Varun as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2004
25 births
Estimated living
379
2026
Meaning
What does Varun mean?
The given name Varun has its origins in Hindu mythology and Vedic Sanskrit literature dating back to around 1500 BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Varu," meaning water or the one who encompasses or restrains. In the ancient Hindu Vedas, Varun is the name of the deity who presided over the waters and oceans, enforcing divine law and guarding against sin.
The name Varun appeared in several sacred texts of Hinduism, including the Rigveda, one of the oldest scriptures in the world. The deity Varun was considered one of the most prominent gods in the Vedic pantheon, often invoked alongside Indra and Agni in rituals and hymns. In the Atharvaveda, Varun was associated with the night sky and the celestial ocean, further solidifying his connection with water and the cosmos.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Varun can be found in the Mahabharata, the ancient Indian epic poem composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this epic, Varun is mentioned as the Lord of the Waters and is revered by the Pandava princes.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Varun. One such individual was Varun, an ancient Indian astronomer and mathematician who lived around the 6th century CE. He is credited with contributing to the field of astronomy and writing the influential work, Pancha-Siddhantika, which synthesized various astronomical treatises.
Another famous Varun was Varun Dev Saran, an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter who participated in the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was born in 1889 and played a significant role in the Kakori Train Robbery case in 1925, which aimed to undermine the British government's economic resources.
In the realm of literature, Varun Narain was a prominent Indian author and playwright who lived from 1923 to 1994. He was known for his works that explored themes of social injustice, inequality, and the human condition. His plays, such as "Andha Yug" (The Age of Darkness), earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards.
More recently, Varun Gandhi is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Born in 1980, he has served as a member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament, and has been active in various social and political initiatives.
Lastly, Varun Dhawan is a renowned Indian actor who has made his mark in Bollywood films. Born in 1987, he has starred in numerous commercially successful movies, including "Student of the Year," "Badrinath Ki Dulhania," and "Judwaa 2," and has won several awards for his performances.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Varun over time
The chart below shows babies named Varun 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 Varun, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Varun by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Varun 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 | #2667 | 40 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1688 | 147 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1363 | 150 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1525 | 45 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Varun
-
Varun Chopra
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1987)
1987-
-
Varun Chandra
British political adviser
1984-
Related
Names similar to Varun
- Vincent 7,753
- Vinnie 6,092
- Victor 4,279
- Vinny 1,401
- Veer 1,163
- Vihaan 948
- Valentino 883
- Viktor 706
- Vlad 677
- Vivaan 615
- Vincenzo 587
- Vladimir 541
FAQ
Varun: questions and answers
How popular is the name Varun in the UK right now?
In 2024, Varun was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Varun most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 25 babies registered as Varun in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Varun?
A masculine Hindu name meaning "water" or "ocean".
How many people are called Varun in the UK?
A total of 382 babies have been registered as Varun 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.