UK boy's name
Akbar
An Arabic name meaning "most great" or "greatest.".
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.
Akbar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Akbar 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 1996, with 16 births.
This profile covers 220 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 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 218 living people in the UK are called Akbar. 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
- • Akbar ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 16 boys were registered as Akbar.
- • About 218 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akbar 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
1996
16 births
Estimated living
218
2026
Meaning
What does Akbar mean?
The name Akbar originates from the Arabic language and means "the greatest" or "very great." It has its roots in the Arabic word "kabir," which means "great" or "elder." This name gained widespread recognition during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, who ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1556 to 1605.
Akbar was born in 1542 and was the third and arguably the greatest ruler of the Mughal Empire. His real name was Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and renowned rulers in Indian history. Akbar was known for his religious tolerance, administrative reforms, and patronage of art and culture.
The name Akbar has been mentioned in various historical texts and records from the medieval period, particularly those related to the Mughal Empire. It has also been used in Islamic literature and texts, reflecting its Arabic origin and connection to Islamic culture.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Akbar can be found in the historical chronicles of the Mughal Empire, such as the Akbarnama, which was written by Akbar's court historian, Abul Fazl. This work provides a detailed account of Akbar's life and reign.
In addition to Akbar the Great, several other notable historical figures have borne the name Akbar. These include:
1. Akbar Khan (1816-1845), an Afghan military commander who fought against British forces during the First Anglo-Afghan War. 2. Akbar Khan Bugti (1944-2006), a former governor of Balochistan province in Pakistan and a prominent Baloch nationalist leader. 3. Akbar Shah II (1760-1837), the penultimate Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1806 to 1837. 4. Akbar Padamsee (1928-2020), an Indian painter and sculptor who was a pioneer of modern Indian art. 5. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1934-2017), an influential Iranian politician who served as the fourth President of Iran from 1989 to 1997.
These individuals have all left their mark on history, whether through their political or military achievements, artistic contributions, or religious and cultural influence, reflecting the significance and enduring legacy of the name Akbar.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Akbar over time
The chart below shows babies named Akbar 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 Akbar, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Akbar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akbar 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 | #4078 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3107 | 68 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2017 | 80 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1116 | 49 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Akbar
-
Akbar Kurtha
actor; television actor
British actor
1970-
-
Akbar Waheed
basketball player
basketball player
Related
Names similar to Akbar
- 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
Akbar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Akbar in the UK right now?
In 2024, Akbar was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Akbar most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 16 babies registered as Akbar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Akbar?
An Arabic name meaning "most great" or "greatest.".
How many people are called Akbar in the UK?
A total of 220 babies have been registered as Akbar 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.