UK boy's name
Eligh
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "elevated".
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.
Eligh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Eligh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3048, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 11 births.
This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2010 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 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Eligh. 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
- • Eligh ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 11 boys were registered as Eligh.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eligh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3048
2022
Births in 2022
6
Latest year
Peak year
2016
11 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Meaning
What does Eligh mean?
The name Eligh has its roots in ancient Semitic languages spoken in the Middle East and North Africa. It is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "ali," which means "high" or "exalted." This name was particularly popular among Arabic-speaking communities during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Eligh can be found in ancient Islamic texts, where it was used to refer to individuals of high social standing or those with a distinguished lineage. In some instances, the name was also associated with religious or spiritual leaders, reflecting its connotation of exaltation.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Eligh. One prominent example is Eligh ibn Abi Talib (599-661 CE), a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, who played a crucial role in the early days of Islam and is revered by many Muslims as the first male to embrace the faith.
Another historical figure named Eligh was Eligh al-Rumi (1207-1273 CE), a renowned Persian poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic. His poetic works, such as the Masnavi, have had a profound influence on Persian literature and Sufism.
In the realm of art and culture, Eligh al-Fazari (fl. 13th century CE) was an influential Arab calligrapher and artist from the Mamluk period. His calligraphic works are considered masterpieces of Arabic calligraphy and have been preserved in various museums and collections.
During the Ottoman Empire, Eligh Pasha (1517-1571 CE) was a prominent military commander and statesman who served as the Grand Vizier, the highest-ranking political advisor to the Sultan.
In more recent times, Eligh Bador (1853-1931 CE) was an influential Egyptian historian and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic history and culture.
While the name Eligh has its roots in the Middle East and North Africa, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures over the centuries, reflecting the rich diversity and interconnectedness of human civilizations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Eligh over time
The chart below shows babies named Eligh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 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 Eligh, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2022, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eligh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eligh 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 | #2492 | 25 | 3 |
| 2010s | #2701 | 66 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Eligh
- 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
Eligh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Eligh in the UK right now?
In 2022, Eligh was ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Eligh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 11 babies registered as Eligh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Eligh?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "elevated".
How many people are called Eligh in the UK?
A total of 91 babies have been registered as Eligh 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.