NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Abir

A gender-neutral Arabic name meaning "fragrant", "perfumed" or "blooming".

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.

Abir is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Abir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 13 births.

This profile covers 192 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 54% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 191 living people in the UK are called Abir. 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

  • Abir ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 13 boys were registered as Abir.
  • About 191 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 86.1% of Abir registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2008

13 births

Estimated living

191

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Abir

In England and Wales birth records, Abir has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 86.1% of registrations are for boys and 13.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

86% boys
14% girls
Boys192 (86.1%)Girls31 (13.9%)

Abir registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,921 in 2024
  • 7 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2008 (13 births)

Abir registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,785 in 2016
  • 3 girls registered in 2016
  • Peak: 1997 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Abir mean?

The name Abir is derived from the Arabic language and has its origins in the Middle East. It is believed to have emerged as a personal name during the 7th century CE, around the time of the rise of Islam.

In Arabic, the word "abir" means "fragrant" or "aromatic." It is sometimes associated with the spice trade that flourished in the region during ancient times. The name may have been given to children with the hope that they would grow up to have a pleasant and appealing personality, akin to the fragrance of aromatic spices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abir can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher, Abu Nuwas, who lived in the 8th century CE. He composed a poem that mentioned a woman named Abir, suggesting that the name was already in use during that period.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Abir. One such individual was Abir al-Kalbi, a renowned Arab genealogist and scholar who lived in the 9th century CE. He authored several books on the lineages and histories of Arab tribes, contributing significantly to the preservation of Arabian cultural heritage.

Another prominent figure with the name Abir was Abir ibn Abd al-Rahim, a Moroccan Sufi scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century CE. He was known for his mystical poems and writings that explored the spiritual realm and the divine essence.

In the 13th century, Abir al-Muqaddasī was a renowned Arab traveler and geographer who wrote extensively about his journeys across the Islamic world. His work, "The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions," provided valuable insights into the geography, cultures, and customs of the lands he visited.

Abir ibn Fadl was a prominent Arab physician and philosopher who lived in the 14th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine and wrote several treatises on various medical topics, including a comprehensive work on ophthalmology.

More recently, Abir Mukherjee is a British author and journalist of Indian descent, known for her historical crime fiction novels set in colonial India. Her debut novel, "A Rising Man," published in 2016, was widely acclaimed and won several literary awards.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Abir throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and the diverse fields in which it has been represented.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Abir over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Abir in England and Wales, 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 Abir, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0481216199620102024

Decades

Abir by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abir 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 #2702 37 5
2010s #2630 76 10
2000s #2521 63 10
1990s #2474 16 4

Related

Names similar to Abir

FAQ

Abir: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Abir was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Abir most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 13 babies registered as Abir in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Abir?

A gender-neutral Arabic name meaning "fragrant", "perfumed" or "blooming".

How many people are called Abir in the UK?

A total of 192 babies have been registered as Abir across the 29 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.