NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Basheer

Arabic name meaning "bearer of good news" or "one who brings glad tidings".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Basheer is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Basheer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2003 to 2011. 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 12 living people in the UK are called Basheer. 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 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Basheer ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Basheer.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Basheer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4647

2011

Births in 2011

3

Latest year

Peak year

2003

3 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Basheer mean?

The name Basheer has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing its roots back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "bashir," which means "bringer of good news" or "bearer of glad tidings." The name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and is often given to boys as a reminder of the importance of spreading joy and positivity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Basheer can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quranic verse 2:119, the word "bashir" is used to describe prophets who were sent as messengers of good news to their respective communities. This association with the prophets and the concept of delivering glad tidings has given the name a strong spiritual and religious significance in the Islamic world.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Basheer. One of the earliest and most prominent was Basheer ibn Sa'd, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a renowned military leader who lived in the 7th century AD. Another notable figure was Basheer al-Khuri, a Syrian poet and writer who lived from 1908 to 1957 and was known for his contributions to modern Arabic literature.

In the realm of science, Basheer Ahmad Malik (1934-2009) was a Pakistani physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir and was a recipient of the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honors.

The name Basheer has also been associated with political figures, such as Basheer Ahmad Sayeed (1935-2015), an Indian politician and former member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He was a prominent leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party and served as the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs in the state government.

Another notable figure bearing the name Basheer was Basheer Gemayel (1947-1982), a Lebanese politician and military commander who served as the President-elect of Lebanon. Tragically, he was assassinated shortly before taking office, and his untimely death had a significant impact on the political landscape of Lebanon during the civil war.

As the name Basheer has spread across various cultures and regions, it has taken on different spellings and variations, such as Bashir, Basheer, or Basheer. However, its core meaning and association with the concept of delivering good news and glad tidings have remained consistent throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Basheer over time

The chart below shows babies named Basheer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Basheer, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Basheer
01223200320072011

Decades

Basheer by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Basheer 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 #4647 3 1
2000s #3883 9 3

Related

Names similar to Basheer

FAQ

Basheer: questions and answers

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

In 2011, Basheer was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Basheer most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Basheer in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Basheer?

Arabic name meaning "bearer of good news" or "one who brings glad tidings".

How many people are called Basheer in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Basheer across the 4 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.