NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Abou

A masculine Arabic name meaning "father" or "dad".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Abou is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Abou popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. 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.

Abou is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Abou. 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 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Abou ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Abou.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abou as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4805

2012

Births in 2012

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Abou mean?

The name Abou has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "ab," which means "father" or "progenitor." In its original form, Abou was often used as a prefix or an honorific title to show respect and reverence for elders or individuals of importance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abou can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. It appears in reference to the Prophet Muhammad's father, Abou Talib, who played a significant role in protecting and supporting the Prophet during the early days of Islam in Mecca.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Abou. One of the most renowned was Abou Bakr (573-634 CE), a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the first caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate after the Prophet's death. His leadership and contributions to the early Islamic community were instrumental in shaping the course of Islamic history.

Another prominent individual with the name Abou was Abou Nuwas (756-814 CE), a renowned Arab poet from the Abbasid era. His works, known for their wit, satire, and celebration of love and wine, have left an indelible mark on Arabic literature and poetry.

In the realm of science, Abou Raihan al-Biruni (973-1048 CE) was a renowned Persian scholar, mathematician, and polymath. His contributions to various fields, including astronomy, geography, and mathematics, were groundbreaking for his time and influenced the development of scientific thought in the Islamic world.

During the Mamluk era in Egypt, Abou al-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi (1409-1470 CE) was a prominent historian and writer. His comprehensive historical work, "Al-Nujum al-Zahirah fi Muluk Misr wa'l-Qahirah" (The Brilliant Stars on the Kings of Egypt and Cairo), is considered a valuable source for understanding the political and social landscape of that period.

In more recent times, Abou Diaby (1986-present) is a French professional footballer who has played for various clubs, including Arsenal and Marseille. Although his career was plagued by injuries, he is regarded as a talented and influential player in the world of football.

These are just a few examples of the many notable figures throughout history who have borne the name Abou, highlighting its rich cultural and historical significance within the Arabic-speaking world and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Abou by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abou 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 #4805 3 1

Related

Names similar to Abou

FAQ

Abou: questions and answers

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

In 2012, Abou was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Abou most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Abou in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Abou?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "father" or "dad".

How many people are called Abou in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Abou across the 1 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.