UK boy's name
Arqam
A masculine Arabic name translating to "highest level" or "elevated place".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arqam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arqam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2004 to 2021. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 22 living people in the UK are called Arqam. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arqam ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Arqam.
- • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arqam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
22
2026
Meaning
What does Arqam mean?
The name Arqam is derived from the Arabic language and has its origins in the Middle East. It is believed to have originated in the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic civilization.
Arqam is a masculine name that comes from the Arabic root word "r-q-m," which means "to inscribe" or "to mark." This root word is also the source of the Arabic word "raqam," which means "number" or "numeral." The name Arqam may have been given to individuals who were skilled in writing, calligraphy, or numeracy.
In Islamic history, Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam was a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the early converts to Islam. He hosted the Prophet and his followers in his house, which became known as the "House of Islam" or "Dar al-Arqam." This house served as a meeting place for the early Muslims, where they would gather to learn about the new religion and hold their prayers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arqam can be found in the works of the renowned Arab poet and writer, Al-Mutanabbi (915-965 CE). He mentioned an individual named Arqam in one of his poems, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Arqam. One of the most famous was Arqam bin Abdul Ghafur (1285-1348 CE), a renowned Sufi scholar and spiritual leader from Persia. He was widely respected for his teachings and writings on Islamic mysticism.
Another prominent figure was Arqam al-Nabulsi (1651-1711 CE), a Syrian scholar and jurist who made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). He authored several influential works on Islamic law and was highly regarded in his time.
In the modern era, one of the most well-known individuals with the name Arqam was Arqam Ayyash (1951-1991), a Palestinian military leader and co-founder of the Palestinian military group known as the Al-Qassam Brigades. He played a crucial role in the Palestinian resistance movement against Israeli occupation.
Arqam bin Ariffin (born 1949) is a Malaysian politician and former Chief Minister of the state of Kelantan. He served in this position from 1990 to 1995 and was known for his efforts to promote Islamic values and policies during his tenure.
Arqam Najjar (born 1989) is a Jordanian long-distance runner who has represented his country in international competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Championships. He holds several national records in long-distance running events.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arqam over time
The chart below shows babies named Arqam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arqam, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arqam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arqam 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 | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4812 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3156 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Arqam
- 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
Arqam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arqam in the UK right now?
In 2021, Arqam was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Arqam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Arqam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arqam?
A masculine Arabic name translating to "highest level" or "elevated place".
How many people are called Arqam in the UK?
A total of 22 babies have been registered as Arqam across the 6 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.