NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Abdilahi

An Arabic name meaning "servant of the Most High" or "servant of God".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Abdilahi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Abdilahi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4023, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 4 births.

This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2003 to 2016. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Abdilahi. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Abdilahi ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 4 boys were registered as Abdilahi.
  • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abdilahi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4023

2016

Births in 2016

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

4 births

Estimated living

26

2026

Meaning

What does Abdilahi mean?

The name Abdilahi is of Somali origin and has its roots in the Arabic language. It is a composite name derived from the Arabic words 'Abd,' meaning 'servant,' and 'Ilahi,' meaning 'of God.' The name can be translated to mean 'servant of God' or 'one who serves God.'

The earliest recorded use of the name Abdilahi can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic expansion in the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding regions. As Islam spread throughout the region, Arabic names with religious connotations, such as Abdilahi, became increasingly popular among the people who embraced the faith.

One of the earliest known figures to bear the name Abdilahi was Abdilahi ibn Abi Bakr (680-741 CE), a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Medina. He was a renowned expert in the field of hadith (sayings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad) and played a significant role in the preservation and transmission of Islamic knowledge.

Another notable figure in history with the name Abdilahi was Abdilahi al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE), a renowned Persian Muslim philosopher, theologian, and mystic. His magnum opus, 'The Revival of the Religious Sciences,' is considered a seminal work in Islamic philosophy and has had a profound impact on Islamic thought and spirituality.

In the 12th century, Abdilahi ibn Amir al-Hadrami (1120-1206 CE), a Yemeni scholar and Sufi mystic, gained recognition for his contributions to the field of Islamic mysticism. His writings and teachings on Sufism have influenced generations of scholars and spiritual seekers.

During the 19th century, Abdilahi ibn Idris al-Sanusi (1787-1859 CE), a renowned Algerian religious scholar and founder of the Sanusiya Sufi order, played a pivotal role in the spread of Islamic education and the revival of Sufism in North Africa.

In more recent times, Abdilahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934-2012 CE) was a prominent Somali scholar, politician, and diplomat. He served as the second President of Somalia from 2004 to 2008 and was instrumental in the country's peace and reconciliation efforts during a tumultuous period in its history.

The name Abdilahi has been widely used across various regions and cultures influenced by the Arabic language and Islamic traditions. Its enduring popularity stems from its deep religious significance and the reverence for serving God, which resonates with many believers throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Abdilahi over time

The chart below shows babies named Abdilahi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Abdilahi, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Abdilahi
01234200320092016

Decades

Abdilahi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abdilahi 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 #4219 11 3
2000s #3365 15 4

Related

Names similar to Abdilahi

FAQ

Abdilahi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Abdilahi in the UK right now?

In 2016, Abdilahi was ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Abdilahi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 4 babies registered as Abdilahi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Abdilahi?

An Arabic name meaning "servant of the Most High" or "servant of God".

How many people are called Abdilahi in the UK?

A total of 26 babies have been registered as Abdilahi across the 7 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.