UK boy's name
Cemal
A masculine Turkish name meaning "handsome".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cemal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cemal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3937, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 7 births.
This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1997 to 2019. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Cemal. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cemal ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 7 boys were registered as Cemal.
- • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cemal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3937
2019
Births in 2019
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
7 births
Estimated living
56
2026
Meaning
What does Cemal mean?
The name Cemal has its origins in the Turkish language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "jamal," which means "beauty" or "perfection." The name gained popularity during the Ottoman Empire period, spanning from the 13th to the 20th century.
Cemal is a masculine name that has been used for centuries in various regions of the Middle East, particularly in Turkey, Iran, and parts of the Arab world. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the 7th century, when it was mentioned in Islamic literature and historical texts.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Cemal was Cemal Pasha (1872-1922), an Ottoman military leader and one of the Three Pashas who ruled the Ottoman Empire during World War I. He played a significant role in the Armenian Genocide and was eventually assassinated in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Another prominent individual with the name Cemal was Cemal Gürsel (1895-1966), a Turkish army officer who served as the fourth President of Turkey from 1960 to 1966. He played a crucial role in the military coup that overthrew the government of Adnan Menderes in 1960.
In the literary world, Cemal Süreya (1931-1990) was a renowned Turkish poet and author. His works were celebrated for their unique style and exploration of themes such as love, loneliness, and the human condition.
Cemal Nuri (1893-1938) was a Turkish intellectual, writer, and politician who played a significant role in the early years of the Republic of Turkey. He was a prominent figure in the Turkish national movement and served as a member of the Grand National Assembly.
Cemal Bey (1925-2009), whose full name was Cemal Reşit Rey, was a prominent Turkish musician and composer. He was known for his contributions to Turkish classical music and his efforts in preserving and promoting traditional Turkish music.
While the name Cemal has its roots in the Middle East and Turkey, it has also been adopted in other cultures and languages over time. However, the historical references and notable individuals mentioned above highlight the rich heritage and significance of this name within the Turkish and Islamic cultural contexts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cemal over time
The chart below shows babies named Cemal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cemal, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2019, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cemal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cemal 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 | #4165 | 23 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2985 | 23 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2261 | 10 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Cemal
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cemal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cemal in the UK right now?
In 2019, Cemal was ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Cemal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 7 babies registered as Cemal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cemal?
A masculine Turkish name meaning "handsome".
How many people are called Cemal in the UK?
A total of 56 babies have been registered as Cemal across the 13 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.