UK boy's name
Cheikh
A masculine Arabic name meaning "elder" or "respected leader".
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.
Cheikh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cheikh 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 2019, with 7 births.
This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2002 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Cheikh. 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
- • Cheikh ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 7 boys were registered as Cheikh.
- • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cheikh 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
2019
7 births
Estimated living
44
2026
Meaning
What does Cheikh mean?
The given name Cheikh originates from the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "شيخ" (shaykh), which means "elder" or "leader." This name has been used in the Arabic-speaking world for centuries and has deep roots in Islamic culture and history.
The earliest recorded use of the name Cheikh can be traced back to the 7th century, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Cheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived between 1263 and 1328 CE. He was known for his influential writings and his contributions to the development of Islamic jurisprudence.
Another notable figure with the name Cheikh was Cheikh Anta Diop, a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, and scholar who lived from 1923 to 1986. He is widely regarded as one of the most prominent African scholars of the 20th century and is famous for his work on African history and the contributions of ancient civilizations to world culture.
In the realm of literature, Cheikh Hamidou Kane, a Senegalese writer and former civil servant, made a significant impact with his novel "L'Aventure Ambiguë" (Ambiguous Adventure), published in 1961. The novel explores themes of colonialism, tradition, and modernity, and is considered a seminal work of African literature.
The name Cheikh has also been associated with religious and spiritual leaders in various Islamic traditions. For instance, Cheikh Ahmad Tijani was the founder of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order, which has a significant following in West Africa and other parts of the world. He lived from 1737 to 1815 and played a crucial role in the spread of Sufism in the region.
Another prominent figure was Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, a Senegalese Muslim religious leader and the founder of the Mouride Brotherhood, a Sufi order that continues to have a large following in Senegal and beyond. He lived from 1853 to 1927 and is revered for his teachings on spiritual devotion and his efforts to promote education and social reform.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cheikh over time
The chart below shows babies named Cheikh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Cheikh, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cheikh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cheikh 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 | #4899 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3594 | 24 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3326 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Cheikh
- 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
Cheikh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cheikh in the UK right now?
In 2024, Cheikh was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Cheikh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 7 babies registered as Cheikh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cheikh?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "elder" or "respected leader".
How many people are called Cheikh in the UK?
A total of 44 babies have been registered as Cheikh across the 11 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.