UK boy's name
Vishal
An Indian masculine given name meaning "vast" or "gigantic".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Vishal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Vishal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 47 births.
This profile covers 337 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 334 living people in the UK are called Vishal. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Vishal ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 47 boys were registered as Vishal.
- • About 334 living people in the UK are estimated to have Vishal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
47 births
Estimated living
334
2026
Meaning
What does Vishal mean?
The given name Vishal originates from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the root of many modern Indo-Iranian languages. It emerged in the Indian subcontinent during the 2nd millennium BCE. Vishal is derived from the Sanskrit word 'vishal,' which means vast, expansive, or immense.
The name Vishal finds its roots in ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas and Puranas, where it is often used to describe the vastness of the universe or the greatness of divine beings. It is also associated with the concepts of grandeur, magnificence, and vastness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vishal can be found in the epic Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a character. Vishal was also the name of a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 7th century CE.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vishal. One of the most famous was Vishal Shekhar, an Indian music composer and singer who was born in 1977. He is renowned for his work in Bollywood films and has won numerous awards for his contributions to the Indian music industry.
Another notable figure was Vishal Bhardwaj, an Indian film director, screenwriter, and music composer born in 1965. He is known for his critically acclaimed films that often explore complex themes and socio-political issues.
In the field of sports, Vishal Singh, an Indian cricketer born in 1987, has represented India in various international tournaments. He is known for his impressive batting skills and has been a part of several successful Indian cricket teams.
Vishal Sikka, an Indian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur born in 1967, served as the CEO of Infosys, a major Indian IT company, from 2014 to 2017. He is recognized for his contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and his efforts in transforming Infosys into a global leader in technology services.
Lastly, Vishal Mangalmukhi, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer born in 1970, has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical dance forms. He is renowned for his innovative choreography and has received numerous awards and accolades for his artistic achievements.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Vishal over time
The chart below shows babies named Vishal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Vishal, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 47 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vishal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Vishal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3968 | 30 | 7 |
| 2000s | #1229 | 181 | 10 |
| 1990s | #601 | 126 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Vishal
-
Vishal Tripathi
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1988)
1988-
-
Vishal Bharat
cricketer
British Virgin Islands cricketer
1978-
Related
Names similar to Vishal
- 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
Vishal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Vishal in the UK right now?
In 2018, Vishal was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Vishal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 47 babies registered as Vishal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Vishal?
An Indian masculine given name meaning "vast" or "gigantic".
How many people are called Vishal in the UK?
A total of 337 babies have been registered as Vishal across the 21 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.