UK boy's name
Baber
Masculine name derived from the Persian word meaning "tiger".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Baber is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Baber popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2863, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Baber is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Baber. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Baber ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Baber.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Baber as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2863
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Baber mean?
The name Baber is of Persian origin, derived from the word "babr," which means "tiger" or "panther." It is believed to have originated in the 15th century during the reign of the Timurid dynasty, which ruled over parts of Central Asia and modern-day Iran.
Baber was the name of the famous Mughal emperor Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Baber, who founded the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. Born in 1483 in Fergana (present-day Uzbekistan), Baber conquered large parts of northern India and established the Mughal dynasty, which ruled over the region for over three centuries. His autobiography, the "Baburnama," is considered a literary masterpiece and provides valuable insights into the history and culture of the time.
In Islamic tradition, the name Baber is sometimes associated with the Arabic word "bahr," which means "sea" or "ocean." This connection is believed to be derived from the Persian word "babr," which can also refer to the strength and power of the sea or ocean.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Baber can be found in the writings of the Persian poet and scholar Jami (1414-1492), who mentions a person named Baber in one of his works. Another notable historical figure with the name Baber was Baber al-Munshi (1542-1585), a Persian historian and author who served under the Mughal emperor Akbar.
Over the centuries, the name Baber has been borne by several other prominent individuals, including:
1. Baber Khan (1665-1721), a Mughal military leader and governor of Kashmir. 2. Baber Mirza (1810-1877), a Mughal prince and son of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. 3. Baber Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1853-1901), a Nepali prime minister and military leader. 4. Baber Khan Chughtai (1897-1963), a renowned Pakistani painter and calligrapher. 5. Baber Zaheer (1932-2022), a Pakistani cricketer who played Test cricket for the Pakistani national team.
While the name Baber remains relatively uncommon in modern times, it continues to hold cultural and historical significance, particularly in parts of South Asia and Central Asia, where it is associated with the legacy of the Mughal Empire and the rich Persian literary and artistic traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Baber by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Baber 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Baber
- 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
Baber: questions and answers
How popular is the name Baber in the UK right now?
In 1996, Baber was ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Baber most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Baber in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Baber?
Masculine name derived from the Persian word meaning "tiger".
How many people are called Baber in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Baber 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.