NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Asal

Of Arabic origin meaning "honey", "origin", or "pure/clear".

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.

Asal is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Asal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.

This profile covers 72 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2003 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 72 living people in the UK are called Asal. 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

  • Asal ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 girls were registered as Asal.
  • About 72 living people in the UK are estimated to have Asal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2023

9 births

Estimated living

72

2026

Meaning

What does Asal mean?

The name Asal has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Asl," which means "origin" or "root." It is a unisex name, though it is more commonly used for females in regions where Arabic is spoken.

The earliest recorded use of the name Asal can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. It was a popular name among Arab scholars and intellectuals of that era, as it symbolized a deep connection to one's roots and heritage.

One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Asal was Asal al-Madini, a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith collector who lived in the 8th century CE. Her vast knowledge and contributions to Islamic literature and theology earned her great respect among her contemporaries.

In the 12th century, Asal al-Dimashqi was a celebrated poet and writer from Damascus. Her works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human experience, were widely acclaimed and influenced the literary traditions of the region.

During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria, which lasted from the 13th to the 16th century, the name Asal gained further prominence. Asal al-Qaramani was a prominent female Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 14th century and was renowned for her spiritual teachings and writings.

In more recent times, Asal Badiee was an Iranian painter and sculptor who lived from 1920 to 2008. Her vibrant and expressive works, which often depicted scenes from Iranian folklore and mythology, earned her international recognition and acclaim.

Another notable figure with the name Asal was Asal Hazel, a Syrian-American writer and activist who was born in 1968. Her poignant works, which explored themes of identity, displacement, and the refugee experience, have been widely praised and translated into multiple languages.

Throughout its history, the name Asal has been associated with a strong sense of cultural identity, intellectual pursuits, and artistic expression. Its Arabic roots and the many accomplished individuals who have borne this name have contributed to its enduring appeal and significance across various regions and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Asal over time

The chart below shows babies named Asal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Asal, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Asal
02579200320132024

Decades

Asal by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Asal 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 #4040 22 4
2010s #4600 35 8
2000s #4239 15 4

Related

Names similar to Asal

FAQ

Asal: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Asal was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Asal most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Asal in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Asal?

Of Arabic origin meaning "honey", "origin", or "pure/clear".

How many people are called Asal in the UK?

A total of 72 babies have been registered as Asal across the 16 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.