NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Assad

A male name of Arabic origin meaning "the lion" or "brave".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Assad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Assad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 8 births.

This profile covers 68 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 67 living people in the UK are called Assad. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Assad ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 boys were registered as Assad.
  • About 67 living people in the UK are estimated to have Assad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

8 births

Estimated living

67

2026

Meaning

What does Assad mean?

The name Assad is an Arabic name derived from the Semitic root word "asad," which means "lion." Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Middle Eastern region, where lions were revered as symbols of strength, courage, and power.

In Arabic culture, the name Assad has been in use for centuries and is often associated with bravery and leadership qualities. The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, mentions the word "asad" several times, further solidifying its significance in the Arab world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Assad can be found in ancient Islamic texts, where it was used to refer to renowned warriors and leaders. For example, Assad ibn al-Furat was a prominent military commander who lived in the 9th century and played a crucial role in the Abbasid Caliphate.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Assad. Among them is Assad al-Din Shirkuh, a Kurdish military commander who lived in the 12th century and served as the vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. His nephew, Saladin, later became one of the most famous Muslim rulers of the Middle Ages.

Another notable figure was Assad Pasha al-Azm, a Syrian statesman and prime minister who lived in the 19th century and played a significant role in the Ottoman Empire's governance of the Levant region.

In the 20th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the name Assad was Hafez al-Assad, the former president of Syria, who ruled from 1971 until his death in 2000. He was a pivotal figure in the modern history of the Middle East and left a lasting legacy in Syrian politics.

Lastly, Assad Mustafa, an Egyptian actor and comedian, gained widespread popularity in the Arab world for his comedic roles in films and television shows during the mid-20th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Assad throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and regions across the Middle East and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Assad over time

The chart below shows babies named Assad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Assad, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Assad
02468199620082020

Decades

Assad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Assad 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 #4608 3 1
2010s #4722 6 2
2000s #3218 33 8
1990s #1723 26 4

Related

Names similar to Assad

FAQ

Assad: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Assad was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Assad most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Assad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Assad?

A male name of Arabic origin meaning "the lion" or "brave".

How many people are called Assad in the UK?

A total of 68 babies have been registered as Assad across the 15 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.