NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Balqees

A feminine Arabic name meaning "queen" or "sovereign".

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.

Balqees is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Balqees popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 6 births.

This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2015 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.

Balqees is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Balqees. 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

  • Balqees ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 6 girls were registered as Balqees.
  • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Balqees as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2024

6 births

Estimated living

24

2026

Meaning

What does Balqees mean?

The name Balqees is of Arabic origin, derived from the Semitic root B-L-Q-S, which is connected to the words "balqa" and "balqis," meaning "digger" or "explorer." The name has its roots in ancient Arabian culture and is believed to have originated in the region now known as Yemen.

The name holds significant historical and cultural significance in the Islamic tradition. In the Quran, Balqees is mentioned as the name of the Queen of Sheba, who ruled over a prosperous kingdom in ancient Yemen. According to Islamic scriptures, she was a powerful and wise ruler who eventually embraced the monotheistic faith brought by the Prophet Solomon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Balqees can be found in the pre-Islamic poetry of the Arabian Peninsula, where it was used to refer to the Queen of Sheba. This association with the legendary figure has contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Arabic-speaking communities.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Balqees. In the 7th century, Balqees bint Riyah was a renowned poet from the Banu Asad tribe in the Arabian Peninsula. Her poetry was celebrated for its eloquence and insight into the social and cultural dynamics of her time.

In the 10th century, Balqees bint Ahmad al-Hadrami was a renowned scholar and author from Hadramaut, Yemen. She wrote extensively on various subjects, including Arabic literature, Islamic jurisprudence, and Prophetic traditions.

In the 12th century, Balqees bint Muhammad al-Qurtubi was a prominent Islamic scholar from Cordoba, Spain. She was highly respected for her expertise in Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence, contributing significantly to the intellectual discourse of her era.

In the 16th century, Balqees Banu Begum was a powerful and influential figure in the Mughal Empire of South Asia. She was the wife of Emperor Humayun and played a crucial role in the consolidation of the Mughal dynasty during a turbulent period.

In the 20th century, Balqees Fathi was an Egyptian actress and singer who gained widespread popularity for her performances in various films and stage productions. She was celebrated for her talent and contributions to the Egyptian entertainment industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Balqees over time

The chart below shows babies named Balqees registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 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 Balqees, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Balqees
02356201520192024

Decades

Balqees by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Balqees 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 #4897 16 4
2010s #4710 8 2

Related

Names similar to Balqees

FAQ

Balqees: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Balqees was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Balqees most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 6 babies registered as Balqees in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Balqees?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "queen" or "sovereign".

How many people are called Balqees in the UK?

A total of 24 babies have been registered as Balqees across the 6 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.