UK boy's name
Awwal
An Arabic masculine name meaning "first" or "foremost".
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.
Awwal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Awwal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 5 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2009 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Awwal. 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
- • Awwal ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 5 boys were registered as Awwal.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Awwal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2015
5 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Awwal mean?
The name Awwal is derived from the Arabic word 'awwal,' which means 'first' or 'beginning.' It has its roots in the ancient Arabic language and culture, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 7th century CE, during the advent of Islam.
In Islamic tradition, the name Awwal is often associated with the concept of being the first or the beginning of something significant. It is believed to have been used as a name for individuals who were born at a significant time or were the first-born child in their family.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Awwal can be found in the historical records of the Abbasid Caliphate, where it was mentioned as the name of a prominent scholar and poet, Awwal bin Abi Awwal (born circa 725 CE), who lived during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur.
Another notable figure in history who bore the name Awwal was Awwal al-Din Kaikaus I, the Seljuk Sultan of Rum (present-day Turkey) who ruled from 1211 to 1220 CE. He was known for his military campaigns and his efforts in promoting Islamic culture and architecture in the region.
During the medieval period, the name Awwal was also found in the records of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria. One such example is Awwal al-Din Qutuz, a Mamluk Sultan who reigned from 1259 to 1260 CE and is remembered for his victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut.
In the 14th century, Awwal al-Din Hasan Gangu, a prominent architect and engineer from the Delhi Sultanate in India, was responsible for the construction of several notable monuments, including the Alai Darwaza and the Begumpuri Masjid in Delhi.
Another historical figure who bore the name Awwal was Awwal al-Din Khilji, a Sultan of the Khilji dynasty in India, who ruled from 1296 to 1316 CE. He is known for his military conquests and the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate during his reign.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who carried the name Awwal, reflecting its significance and usage across various cultures and time periods in the Islamic world and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Awwal over time
The chart below shows babies named Awwal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 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 Awwal, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Awwal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Awwal 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 | #3606 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4029 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Awwal
- 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
Awwal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Awwal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Awwal was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Awwal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 5 babies registered as Awwal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Awwal?
An Arabic masculine name meaning "first" or "foremost".
How many people are called Awwal in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Awwal 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.