UK boy's name
Bilaal
An Arabic masculine given name meaning "moistening" or "making wet".
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.
Bilaal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bilaal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 29 births.
This profile covers 426 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 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 10% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 422 living people in the UK are called Bilaal. 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
- • Bilaal ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 29 boys were registered as Bilaal.
- • About 422 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bilaal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
29 births
Estimated living
422
2026
Meaning
What does Bilaal mean?
The name Bilaal has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the 7th century AD during the advent of Islam. It is derived from the Arabic root word 'bala'a', which means to test or try. The name Bilaal is believed to signify one who is constantly tested or tried.
One of the earliest and most notable historical references to the name Bilaal is found in Islamic scriptures and texts. Bilaal ibn Rabah was a former Abyssinian slave who became one of the most trusted and revered companions of the Prophet Muhammad. He was born in Mecca around 580 AD and was among the first to convert to Islam. Bilaal was appointed by the Prophet as the first muezzin, responsible for calling the faithful to prayer.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Bilaal can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the early spread of Islam. Throughout history, there have been several prominent figures who bore the name Bilaal.
Bilaal ibn Rabah (580-642 AD), as mentioned earlier, was a revered companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the first muezzin in Islamic history.
Bilaal al-Habashi (1130-1217 AD) was a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Morocco who played a significant role in the spread of Islamic teachings in North Africa.
Bilaal Muhammad (1916-1966) was an African-American Muslim convert and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam movement, working closely with Elijah Muhammad.
Bilaal Philips (born 1946) is a contemporary Canadian Muslim scholar and author who has written extensively on Islamic topics and has contributed to the spread of Islamic knowledge in the West.
Bilaal Rajan (born 1975) is a British actor and filmmaker of Indian descent, known for his roles in various television series and films.
The name Bilaal has maintained its significance and popularity throughout the centuries, particularly in the Muslim world, where it continues to be a widely chosen name for newborn boys, reflecting its deep-rooted historical and religious connections.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bilaal over time
The chart below shows babies named Bilaal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Bilaal, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bilaal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bilaal 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 | #3297 | 33 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2219 | 93 | 9 |
| 2000s | #968 | 224 | 10 |
| 1990s | #818 | 76 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bilaal
- 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
Bilaal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bilaal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bilaal was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bilaal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 29 babies registered as Bilaal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bilaal?
An Arabic masculine given name meaning "moistening" or "making wet".
How many people are called Bilaal in the UK?
A total of 426 babies have been registered as Bilaal across the 28 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.