UK boy's name
Ayoob
A masculine Arabic name meaning "the one who returns" or "penitent".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ayoob is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ayoob popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3996, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 7 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1997 to 2017. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Ayoob. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ayoob ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 7 boys were registered as Ayoob.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ayoob as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3996
2017
Births in 2017
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
7 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Ayoob mean?
The name Ayoob is derived from the Arabic name Ayyub, which is the Arabic form of the Biblical name Job. The name Job is derived from the Hebrew word 'iyov', meaning 'persecuted' or 'afflicted'. It is believed that the name Ayoob has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and cultures dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.
Ayoob is mentioned in various religious texts, including the Quran, the Bible, and the Book of Job in the Old Testament. In the Quran, Ayoob is revered as a prophet who endured great suffering and tribulations with patience and steadfastness, earning him the title 'Siddiq' (truthful). The Book of Job in the Old Testament narrates the story of Job's trials and his unwavering faith in God, which has become a timeless lesson on the virtues of perseverance and faith.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ayoob can be found in the works of the renowned Islamic scholar and historian, Ibn Ishaq (704-767 CE), who chronicled the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Ibn Ishaq mentioned an individual named Ayoob ibn Khalid al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet who participated in various battles and expeditions during the early days of Islam.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ayoob. One such individual was Ayoob ibn Shuaib (d. 823 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Khurasan, who made significant contributions to the field of Hanafi jurisprudence. Another prominent figure was Ayoob ibn Masawayh (d. 857 CE), a Christian physician and philosopher from Gundeshapur, Persia, who played a crucial role in the translation of Greek philosophical and scientific texts into Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of literature, Ayoob Tuwayni (d. 1192 CE) was a celebrated Arabic poet and writer from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). His works, which included poetry and literary criticism, were widely acclaimed and influenced the literary scene of his time. Another notable figure was Ayoob Isfahani (d. 1216 CE), a Persian philosopher and logician who made significant contributions to the field of Islamic philosophy and logic.
More recently, Ayoob Khan (1905-1963) was a prominent Pakistani politician and statesman who played a crucial role in the independence movement of Pakistan and served as the first President of the newly formed nation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ayoob over time
The chart below shows babies named Ayoob registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ayoob, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2017, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ayoob by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ayoob 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 | #3861 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2772 | 16 | 3 |
| 1990s | #1761 | 6 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ayoob
- 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
Ayoob: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ayoob in the UK right now?
In 2017, Ayoob was ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Ayoob most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 7 babies registered as Ayoob in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ayoob?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "the one who returns" or "penitent".
How many people are called Ayoob in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Ayoob across the 7 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.