UK boy's name
Adib
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "cultured, well-mannered".
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.
Adib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Adib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 7 births.
This profile covers 82 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 81 living people in the UK are called Adib. 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
- • Adib ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 7 boys were registered as Adib.
- • About 81 living people in the UK are estimated to have Adib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
7 births
Estimated living
81
2026
Meaning
What does Adib mean?
The name Adib has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "adab," which means "literature," "culture," or "refinement." The name is closely associated with knowledge, education, and intellectual pursuits.
Adib first appeared in historical records as a title or honorific bestowed upon scholars, poets, and men of letters in the Islamic Golden Age. During this period, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century, the Arabic world experienced a remarkable flourishing of arts, sciences, and literature. Individuals who excelled in these fields were often referred to as "Adib."
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Adib was Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, a renowned Arabic litterateur and scholar who lived from 897 to 967 CE. He authored the monumental work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a vast compendium of Arabic poetry and biographical information about poets.
Another notable figure was Adib Sabir (1857-1913), an influential Egyptian poet and writer who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance of the 19th century. His poetry collection, "Al-Arwah al-Hadira" (The Present Souls), is considered a seminal work of modern Arabic literature.
In the 20th century, Adib al-Shishakli (1909-1964) was a prominent Syrian military officer and politician who served as the President of Syria from 1953 to 1954. Although his rule was brief, he left a lasting impact on Syrian politics and society.
The name Adib also gained prominence in the world of literature and academia. Adib Majid (1920-2008) was a renowned Iraqi poet, essayist, and translator who made significant contributions to Arabic literature and cultural studies. His works explored themes of identity, modernity, and the intersection of Eastern and Western thought.
Another notable figure was Adib Khair (1945-2018), a Syrian-born writer and academic who authored several novels, short stories, and critical works. His literary works explored themes of displacement, exile, and the complexities of cultural identity in the modern world.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Adib, a name that carries with it a rich cultural heritage and a strong association with intellectual pursuits, literature, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Adib over time
The chart below shows babies named Adib registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Adib, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Adib by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Adib 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 | #4877 | 12 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3915 | 30 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3197 | 28 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2449 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Adib
- 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
Adib: questions and answers
How popular is the name Adib in the UK right now?
In 2024, Adib was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Adib most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 7 babies registered as Adib in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Adib?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "cultured, well-mannered".
How many people are called Adib in the UK?
A total of 82 babies have been registered as Adib across the 21 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.