UK boy's name
Abed
One of the most devoted servants of Allah.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Abed is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Abed popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 6 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1998 to 2015. 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 Abed. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Abed ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 6 boys were registered as Abed.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abed as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
6 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Abed mean?
The name Abed has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word 'abd,' which means 'servant' or 'worshipper.' The name is often used in combination with other words to form compound names, such as 'Abdallah' (servant of Allah) or 'Abdur-Rahman' (servant of the Most Merciful).
Abed has a strong religious and cultural significance in the Islamic tradition. It is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and is often given to Muslim boys as a way of expressing their devotion to God. The name also has roots in pre-Islamic Arabia, where it was used by various tribes and clans.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abed can be found in the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE), where it was borne by several prominent figures, including Abed ibn al-Abras, a notable poet and warrior. Another early bearer of the name was Abed al-Rahman I, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain, who ruled from 756 to 788 CE.
Throughout history, the name Abed has been associated with scholars, poets, and religious figures. One notable example is Abed al-Qadir al-Jilani (1077-1166 CE), a renowned Sufi mystic and founder of the Qadiriyya order, who is revered in the Islamic world for his spiritual teachings and contributions to Islamic mysticism.
Another famous bearer of the name was Abed al-Rahman al-Sufi (903-986 CE), a Persian astronomer and mathematician who contributed significantly to the development of astronomy and the understanding of stars and constellations. His work, known as the "Book of Fixed Stars," was widely influential in the Islamic world and beyond.
In more recent times, Abed has been borne by several influential figures, including Abed al-Aziz ibn Saud (1875-1953), the first monarch of Saudi Arabia, and Abed al-Karim Qasim (1914-1963), an Iraqi nationalist and revolutionary who served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 1958 to 1963.
While the name Abed has its roots in the Arabic and Islamic tradition, it has also gained popularity in other cultures and regions, particularly among those with significant Muslim populations or influences. The name continues to be widely used today, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Abed over time
The chart below shows babies named Abed registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Abed, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Abed by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abed 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 | #4306 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3569 | 15 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Abed
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Abed: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abed in the UK right now?
In 2015, Abed was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Abed most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 6 babies registered as Abed in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abed?
One of the most devoted servants of Allah.
How many people are called Abed in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Abed 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.