UK girl's name
Bilqis
An Arabic feminine name derived from an ancient queen of Sheba.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bilqis is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bilqis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 8 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2001 to 2022. 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Bilqis. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bilqis ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 8 girls were registered as Bilqis.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bilqis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3970
2022
Births in 2022
5
Latest year
Peak year
2007
8 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Bilqis mean?
The name Bilqis originates from the Arabic language and is derived from the ancient Semitic root "b-l-q-y-s". It is believed to have originated in pre-Islamic Arabia, specifically in the region of Yemen, and was associated with the legendary Queen of Sheba, known as Bilqis in Arabic.
The name Bilqis has been mentioned in various ancient texts and religious scriptures. It appears in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it refers to the Queen of Sheba who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Saba in Yemen. The Quran mentions her wisdom, intelligence, and her encounter with the Prophet Solomon.
In addition to its religious significance, the name Bilqis has been recorded in historical accounts and texts from the region. The earliest known recorded use of the name dates back to the 10th century BC, when it was mentioned in ancient Sabaean inscriptions found in Yemen.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Bilqis. One of the most famous was Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, who is believed to have ruled over the ancient kingdom of Saba in Yemen around the 10th century BC. Her reign was marked by prosperity, wealth, and her legendary encounter with King Solomon, as depicted in various religious and historical texts.
Another historical figure with the name Bilqis was Bilqis bint Riyah, a prominent Arab poet and warrior who lived in the 7th century AD. She was known for her bravery and her contributions to the literary tradition of pre-Islamic Arabia.
In the 13th century, Bilqis Al-Muhtadiah was a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). She was renowned for her spiritual teachings and her contributions to the field of Islamic mysticism.
Bilqis Begum was a 16th-century Mughal princess and the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her involvement in the cultural and intellectual life of the Mughal court.
Bilqis Sultana was a 17th-century Mughal princess and the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. She was known for her philanthropy and her contributions to the construction of several notable buildings, including the Bilqis Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bilqis over time
The chart below shows babies named Bilqis registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bilqis, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2022, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bilqis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bilqis 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 | #4732 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5440 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3469 | 23 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Bilqis
- 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
Bilqis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bilqis in the UK right now?
In 2022, Bilqis was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Bilqis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 8 babies registered as Bilqis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bilqis?
An Arabic feminine name derived from an ancient queen of Sheba.
How many people are called Bilqis in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Bilqis across the 10 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.