UK girl's name
Ashwaq
An Arabic feminine name meaning desires, longings, or passionate love.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ashwaq is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ashwaq popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2007 to 2016. 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 18 living people in the UK are called Ashwaq. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ashwaq ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Ashwaq.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashwaq as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Ashwaq mean?
The name Ashwaq has its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "shawq," which means "longing" or "desire." The name can be traced back to the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE, when Arabic was widely spoken in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ashwaq can be found in classical Arabic literature, particularly in poetry and love stories. In these works, the name often symbolized the intense longing and affection felt between lovers or romantic partners.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ashwaq. One of the earliest was Ashwaq al-Tahhani, a renowned female poet who lived in the 8th century CE. Her poetry was known for its passionate and emotional themes, reflecting her name's meaning.
Another notable figure was Ashwaq al-Qurashi, a scholar and teacher from the 10th century CE who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
During the medieval period, the name Ashwaq was particularly popular among the ruling dynasties and aristocratic families of the Islamic world. One example is Ashwaq Bint al-Muqtadir, a princess from the Abbasid Caliphate who lived in the 10th century CE and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
In more recent times, the name Ashwaq has been carried by several influential figures, such as Ashwaq Haydar, an Iraqi novelist and activist who wrote extensively about women's rights and social issues in the 20th century.
Another notable bearer of the name is Ashwaq Saleh, a Yemeni writer and journalist who has been recognized for her work in promoting freedom of expression and human rights in Yemen.
The name Ashwaq continues to be popular in various Arabic-speaking regions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Its rich historical significance and poetic connotations make it a cherished name choice for many parents seeking a name with deep cultural and linguistic roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ashwaq over time
The chart below shows babies named Ashwaq registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ashwaq, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ashwaq by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashwaq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5192 | 11 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4863 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Ashwaq
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Ashwaq: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ashwaq in the UK right now?
In 2016, Ashwaq was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ashwaq most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Ashwaq in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ashwaq?
An Arabic feminine name meaning desires, longings, or passionate love.
How many people are called Ashwaq in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Ashwaq across the 5 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.