NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Areej

An Arabic feminine name meaning "fragrant" or "aromatic.".

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.

Areej is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Areej popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 19 births.

This profile covers 318 England and Wales registrations across 28 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 319 living people in the UK are called Areej. 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

  • Areej ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 19 girls were registered as Areej.
  • Areej ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #808 in 2017.
  • About 319 living people in the UK are estimated to have Areej as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2253

2024

Births in 2024

12

Latest year

Peak year

2016

19 births

Estimated living

319

2026

Meaning

What does Areej mean?

The name Areej has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "arj," which means "fragrant" or "perfumed." This name is often associated with the aromatic scent of flowers and plants, particularly in the Middle Eastern region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Areej can be found in the ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was used to describe the delightful fragrance of gardens and natural surroundings. The name gained popularity among the Arab poets and writers, who often used it as a metaphor to express their admiration for beauty and elegance.

In the historical context, the name Areej has been mentioned in various texts and records throughout the Islamic world. Some scholars suggest that it may have been used as a name for women in the early Islamic era, particularly during the time of the Islamic golden age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Areej. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Areej bint Abdul Malik (661-738 CE), a princess from the Umayyad dynasty, who was known for her intelligence and literary talents.

Another prominent figure was Areej al-Baghdadiya (945-1025 CE), a renowned poetess and scholar from Baghdad, whose works were widely celebrated during the Abbasid era. Her poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience.

In the 12th century, Areej al-Samarkandiya (1125-1192 CE) was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Samarkand, who is remembered for her spiritual teachings and her profound impact on the Sufi tradition.

During the Ottoman Empire, Areej Hanım (1789-1858) was a prominent figure in the court of Sultan Mahmud II. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the establishment of educational institutions for women.

In more recent times, Areej Zufari (1954-present) is a celebrated Emirati poet and author, whose works have been widely published and acclaimed in the Arab world. Her poetry often explores themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

The name Areej has maintained its popularity and significance within Arabic-speaking communities, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the natural world's fragrance and beauty.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Areej over time

The chart below shows babies named Areej 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 Areej, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Areej
05101419199620102024

Decades

Areej by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Areej 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 #2873 42 5
2010s #1959 144 10
2000s #1890 112 10
1990s #2461 20 3

Geography

Where Areej is most common

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

Areej ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #808 in 2017.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Areej in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#808 in 2017

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Areej

FAQ

Areej: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Areej was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.

When was Areej most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 19 babies registered as Areej in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Areej?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "fragrant" or "aromatic.".

How many people are called Areej in the UK?

A total of 318 babies have been registered as Areej across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Areej most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Areej ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #808 in 2017. 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.