UK name, mostly boys
Ehsan
An Arabic masculine name with meaning "kindness", "favor" or "grace".
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.
Ehsan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Ehsan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 41 births.
This profile covers 692 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 687 living people in the UK are called Ehsan. 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
- • Ehsan ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 41 boys were registered as Ehsan.
- • About 687 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ehsan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.6% of Ehsan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1460
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2008
41 births
Estimated living
687
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ehsan
In England and Wales birth records, Ehsan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.6% of registrations are for boys and 0.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ehsan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,460 in 2024
- 18 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2008 (41 births)
Ehsan registered for girls
- Ranked #5,591 in 2019
- 3 girls registered in 2019
- Peak: 2019 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Ehsan mean?
The name Ehsan has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "ihsan," which means "excellence," "goodness," or "benevolence." The name is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic period, around the 7th century CE.
Ehsan is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, which highlights the importance of practicing excellence and benevolence in one's actions and deeds. The name gained popularity among Arab Muslims who sought to instill these virtues in their children.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ehsan can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. For instance, the famous historian Al-Tabari (838-923 CE) mentioned individuals with the name Ehsan in his chronicles, indicating its usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ehsan. One prominent example is Ehsan Masood, a British science writer and journalist who was born in 1950. He has authored several books and articles on science and its relationship with developing countries.
Another well-known individual with the name Ehsan is Ehsan Naraghi (1926-2012), an Iranian sociologist and writer who made significant contributions to the field of social sciences in Iran.
In the realm of literature, Ehsan Danish (1920-1986) was a renowned Pakistani poet and playwright who contributed greatly to the Urdu language and literature.
Ehsan Yarshater (1920-2018) was an Iranian-American scholar and linguist who specialized in Persian studies and made significant contributions to the field of Iranian philology.
Ehsan Shafiq (1932-1999) was a Pakistani politician and lawyer who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 1993 to 1996.
These individuals, spanning different eras and regions, exemplify the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with the name Ehsan throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ehsan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ehsan in England and Wales, 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 Ehsan, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 41 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ehsan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ehsan 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 | #1988 | 66 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1089 | 281 | 10 |
| 2000s | #759 | 306 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1287 | 39 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ehsan
-
Ehsan Masood
university teacher; journalist; broadcaster
British journalist
1967-
Related
Names similar to Ehsan
- Ethan 77,394
- Edward 53,212
- Elliot 23,450
- Elijah 22,369
- Ellis 19,358
- Elliott 16,964
- Evan 14,535
- Ezra 11,838
- Ewan 10,685
- Eli 8,126
- Elias 7,049
- Eric 6,654
FAQ
Ehsan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ehsan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ehsan was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Ehsan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 41 babies registered as Ehsan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ehsan?
An Arabic masculine name with meaning "kindness", "favor" or "grace".
How many people are called Ehsan in the UK?
A total of 692 babies have been registered as Ehsan across the 29 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.