UK boy's name
Vikash
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin representing blooming, development, or growth.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vikash is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Vikash popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 6 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Vikash. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vikash ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 6 boys were registered as Vikash.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vikash as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
6 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Vikash mean?
The name Vikash has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to around the 3rd century BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "vikasa," which means "blossoming" or "blooming." The name is primarily found in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vikash can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. In the Rigveda, which is one of the oldest known texts in the world, there are references to a person named Vikasha, who was believed to be a sage or a scholar.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Vikash. One of the most famous was Vikash Narain Rai (1919-2003), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1970 to 1975.
Another notable figure was Vikash Chandra Shukla (1937-2022), an Indian politician who served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament, from 1977 to 1980. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress and held various cabinet positions in the government.
In the field of literature, Vikash Swarup (born 1959) is a renowned Indian author and diplomat who is best known for his critically acclaimed novel "Q & A," which was later adapted into the Academy Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire." His other notable works include "Six Suspects" and "The Accidental Apprentice."
Vikash Ambalal Mehta (1920-2001) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Saurashtra Cement Limited, one of the largest cement companies in India. He was also actively involved in various social and charitable organizations, and his contributions to education and healthcare were widely recognized.
Vikash Narain Rai (1910-1977), not to be confused with the earlier Vikash Narain Rai, was an Indian poet and writer who wrote in the Hindi language. His notable works include "Parvatiya," "Akath Kahani," and "Chhalang." He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 1972 for his contributions to literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Vikash over time
The chart below shows babies named Vikash registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Vikash, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vikash by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vikash 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3830 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #2996 | 8 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2051 | 10 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Vikash
- 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
Vikash: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vikash in the UK right now?
In 2020, Vikash was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Vikash most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 6 babies registered as Vikash in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vikash?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin representing blooming, development, or growth.
How many people are called Vikash in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Vikash across the 6 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.