UK boy's name
Babacar
A Muslim male given name of Senegalese origin meaning "respected father".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Babacar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Babacar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2018 to 2018. 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.
Babacar is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Babacar. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Babacar ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 boys were registered as Babacar.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Babacar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Babacar mean?
The name Babacar originates from the Wolof language spoken by the Wolof people of Senegal and parts of Mauritania. It is believed to have derived from the Wolof words "bàbbar" meaning "great" and "kàr" meaning "power" or "force." The name can be traced back to at least the 16th century, during the height of the Wolof Empire in West Africa.
Babacar is considered a traditional Wolof name often given to male children as a symbol of strength, courage, and greatness. In the Wolof culture, names carry significant meaning and are carefully chosen to reflect the desired qualities and aspirations for the child.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Babacar can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorers and traders who interacted with the Wolof people along the Senegambian coast in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. These accounts mention individuals with the name Babacar, suggesting its widespread use among the Wolof nobility and ruling class during that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Babacar. One of the most famous was Babacar Diop (1813-1867), a prominent Wolof military leader and diplomat who played a crucial role in the resistance against French colonial expansion in Senegal. Another was Babacar N'Diaye (1907-1989), a Senegalese politician and intellectual who served as the first President of the National Assembly of Senegal after independence.
Other historically significant individuals with the name include Babacar Sarr (1929-2010), a Senegalese writer and poet who was instrumental in promoting Wolof literature and culture, and Babacar Guèye (1926-1997), a renowned Senegalese painter and sculptor whose works captured the essence of African art and identity.
In the realm of sports, Babacar N'Diaye (born 1962) was a prominent Senegalese basketball player who played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Babacar, reflecting its deep roots in the Wolof culture and its significance as a symbol of strength, power, and cultural identity.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Babacar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Babacar 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 | #4749 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Babacar
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Babacar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Babacar in the UK right now?
In 2018, Babacar was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Babacar most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Babacar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Babacar?
A Muslim male given name of Senegalese origin meaning "respected father".
How many people are called Babacar in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Babacar across the 1 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.