NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Abida

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "servant" or "worshiper".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Abida is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Abida popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 42 births.

This profile covers 483 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 483 living people in the UK are called Abida. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Abida ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 42 girls were registered as Abida.
  • Abida ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #565 in 1985.
  • About 483 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abida as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2004

42 births

Estimated living

483

2026

Meaning

What does Abida mean?

The name Abida has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "abid," which means "servant" or "worshipper," referring to someone who is devoted to their faith or a higher power.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abida can be found in historical Islamic texts and records, particularly those related to religious scholars and figures from the medieval period. The name was often given to individuals known for their piety and dedication to their spiritual beliefs.

A notable historical figure bearing the name Abida was Abida al-Andalusiyya, a renowned female poet and scholar who lived in the 10th century CE in Cordoba, Spain, during the height of the Umayyad Caliphate. She was celebrated for her mastery of Arabic poetry and her contributions to the literary and intellectual life of the time.

Another prominent individual with the name Abida was Abida Parveen, a renowned Pakistani singer and composer born in 1954. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of Sufi and devotional music, known for her powerful vocals and her ability to convey profound spiritual messages through her art.

In the 12th century, there was Abida bint Sahim, a respected Arabian poet and scholar who lived in Andalusia (modern-day Spain). Her works were widely acclaimed for their emotional depth and literary craftsmanship.

Abida Sultaan, born in 1913 in British India (now Pakistan), was a pioneering female politician and activist who fought for women's rights and social reforms. She played a crucial role in the struggle for independence and was later elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan.

Abida Hussain, born in 1940, was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was a leading figure in the revival and promotion of the Kathak dance form and was awarded several prestigious honors, including the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, for her contributions to the arts.

While the name Abida has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries, with variations and adaptations found in various parts of the world. The name's enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich historical significance and the admirable qualities it represents, such as devotion, servitude, and spiritual enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Abida over time

The chart below shows babies named Abida registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Abida, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 42 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Abida
011213242199620102024

Decades

Abida by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abida 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 #3884 23 4
2010s #2730 94 10
2000s #1012 276 10
1990s #953 90 4

Geography

Where Abida is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Abida. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Abida ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #565 in 1985.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Abida in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#565 in 1985

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Abida

FAQ

Abida: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Abida was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Abida most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 42 babies registered as Abida in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Abida?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "servant" or "worshiper".

How many people are called Abida in the UK?

A total of 483 babies have been registered as Abida across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Abida most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Abida ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #565 in 1985. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.