UK girl's name
Basra
An Arabic name meaning "wealthy land, fertile soil".
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.
Basra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Basra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2012 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.
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 6 living people in the UK are called Basra. 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
- • Basra ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 girls were registered as Basra.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Basra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Basra mean?
The name Basra has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the 7th century CE. It is believed to be derived from the word "basrah," which means "a fertile land" or "a collection of water." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with those living in or near fertile regions or bodies of water.
Basra is also the name of a city in southern Iraq, located near the Persian Gulf. This city, founded in 636 CE, was once a significant center of trade and learning in the Islamic world. It is possible that the name gained popularity as a result of the city's prominence during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Basra can be found in the Islamic hadith literature, which includes accounts of the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. A companion of the Prophet, named Basra bint Ghazwan, is mentioned in several hadith narrations, indicating the use of the name during the early days of Islam.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Basra. Among them is Basra bint 'Abd al-Rahman (d. 730 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived during the Umayyad caliphate. Another prominent figure is Basra al-Ghudaniyya (d. 1137 CE), a Sufi mystic and poet from Andalusia, known for her spiritual writings.
In the realm of literature, Basra al-Isfahani (d. 967 CE) was a celebrated Persian poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the development of Arabic literature during the Abbasid era. Furthermore, Basra al-Nahrawani (d. 1058 CE) was a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad, whose works influenced the fields of algebra and trigonometry.
More recently, Basra Khadija (1909-1989) was a prominent Sudanese poet and activist, known for her contributions to the literary and women's rights movements in Sudan. Her poetic works explored themes of social justice, women's empowerment, and national identity.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Basra throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the cultural richness associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Basra over time
The chart below shows babies named Basra registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Basra, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Basra by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Basra 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 | #5891 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Basra
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Basra: questions and answers
How popular is the name Basra in the UK right now?
In 2024, Basra was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Basra most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Basra in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Basra?
An Arabic name meaning "wealthy land, fertile soil".
How many people are called Basra in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Basra across the 2 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.