NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Aqib

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who follows closely behind".

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.

Aqib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aqib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 66 births.

This profile covers 614 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 613 living people in the UK are called Aqib. 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

  • Aqib ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 66 boys were registered as Aqib.
  • Aqib ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #322 in 1998.
  • About 613 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aqib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2671

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

1997

66 births

Estimated living

613

2026

Meaning

What does Aqib mean?

The name Aqib has its origins in Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "Aqib," which means "follower" or "successor." The name is believed to have been used in the Middle East and North Africa regions during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aqib can be found in historical texts from the 7th century CE, during the early years of Islamic expansion. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been used by early Muslim communities to honor individuals who were deemed as faithful followers of the Prophet Muhammad.

In terms of historical references, the name Aqib has been mentioned in various Islamic texts and manuscripts. However, specific mentions of individuals bearing this name are relatively scarce in ancient records.

One notable figure in history who bore the name Aqib was Aqib ibn Abi Quhafah, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century CE. He is known for his participation in several significant battles during the early Islamic conquests.

Another individual named Aqib who left a mark in history was Aqib al-Akhras, a 9th-century Arab poet and scholar from present-day Iraq. He was renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in various fields, including linguistics and theology.

In the 12th century, Aqib al-Din al-Bunduqdari was a prominent historian and writer from Damascus, Syria. He authored several works on the history and geography of the region during the Ayyubid dynasty.

During the 13th century, Aqib al-Masri was a renowned Egyptian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of astronomy and the development of astronomical instruments.

In the 15th century, Aqib al-Baghdadi was a celebrated calligrapher and artist from Baghdad, Iraq. His intricate calligraphic works and illuminated manuscripts are highly regarded and have been preserved in various museums and collections around the world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Aqib. While not an exhaustive list, it provides an insight into the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name across different eras and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Aqib over time

The chart below shows babies named Aqib 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 Aqib, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 66 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Aqib
017335066199620102024

Decades

Aqib by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aqib 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 #2440 45 5
2010s #2075 115 10
2000s #982 233 10
1990s #408 221 4

Geography

Where Aqib is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aqib. 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.

Aqib ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #322 in 1998.

Scotland
5

Across the UK

Aqib in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#322 in 1998

1 years of NRS records, 5 total registered

Related

Names similar to Aqib

FAQ

Aqib: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Aqib was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Aqib most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 66 babies registered as Aqib in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Aqib?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who follows closely behind".

How many people are called Aqib in the UK?

A total of 614 babies have been registered as Aqib across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 5 more in Scotland.

Where is Aqib most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Aqib ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #322 in 1998. 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.