UK boy's name
Viren
A Hindu masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "brave, valiant, heroic".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Viren is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Viren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 15 births.
This profile covers 167 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 166 living people in the UK are called Viren. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Viren ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 15 boys were registered as Viren.
- • About 166 living people in the UK are estimated to have Viren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
15 births
Estimated living
166
2026
Meaning
What does Viren mean?
The name Viren is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "vira" meaning "brave" or "heroic." This name has its roots in ancient Hindu culture and can be traced back to the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Viren can be found in the epic Hindu text, the Mahabharata. In this ancient Sanskrit scripture, Viren is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought bravely in the great Battle of Kurukshetra.
During the medieval period in India, the name Viren gained popularity among the warrior classes and nobility. It was often given to sons with the hope that they would grow up to be valiant and courageous individuals.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Viren. One of the most famous was Viren Shah (1020-1094), a renowned military commander from the Solanki dynasty of Gujarat, India. He was known for his strategic brilliance and leadership on the battlefield.
Another notable Viren was Viren Mukherjee (1891-1958), an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who played a significant role in the country's independence movement against British colonial rule. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the underprivileged.
In more recent times, Viren Rasquinha (born 1979) is a former Indian field hockey player who captained the national team and won numerous international tournaments, including the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy.
Viren Khanna (born 1967) is an Indian American businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded the successful software company Augnition. He has been recognized for his contributions to the technology industry and has been featured in various business publications.
Viren Khurana (born 1974) is an Indian classical vocalist and composer, renowned for his expertise in the Khayal and Thumri styles of Hindustani music. He has performed at prestigious venues around the world and has received numerous awards and accolades for his artistic excellence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Viren over time
The chart below shows babies named Viren registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Viren, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Viren by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Viren 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 | #4460 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2558 | 89 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3044 | 42 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2046 | 22 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Viren
- 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
Viren: questions and answers
How popular is the name Viren in the UK right now?
In 2023, Viren was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Viren most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 15 babies registered as Viren in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Viren?
A Hindu masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "brave, valiant, heroic".
How many people are called Viren in the UK?
A total of 167 babies have been registered as Viren across the 27 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.