NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Emad

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "pillar" or "support".

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.

Emad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Emad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 14 births.

This profile covers 185 England and Wales registrations across 28 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.

Emad is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 184 living people in the UK are called Emad. 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

  • Emad ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 14 boys were registered as Emad.
  • About 184 living people in the UK are estimated to have Emad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1758

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2024

14 births

Estimated living

184

2026

Meaning

What does Emad mean?

The name Emad has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "Imad," which means "support" or "pillar." The name is thought to have first emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Emad can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Maʿarri (973-1057 CE). In his work, he mentions an individual named Emad al-Din, which translates to "Pillar of the Faith."

During the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE), the name Emad gained popularity among the intellectual and political elite. One notable figure was Emad al-Mulk al-Isfahani (1119-1189 CE), a prominent vizier and statesman who served under the Seljuk Sultan Sanjar.

Another historical figure with the name Emad was Emad al-Din Zengi (1085-1146 CE), a prominent military leader and the founder of the Zengid dynasty. He played a significant role in the struggle against the Crusaders in the Levant region.

In the 13th century, the name Emad was associated with the famous Islamic philosopher and polymath, Emad al-Din al-Isfahani (1201-1274 CE). He was renowned for his contributions to various fields, including logic, mathematics, and astronomy.

During the Ottoman Empire, the name Emad remained popular among the ruling class and scholars. One notable figure was Emad al-Din al-Isfahani (1506-1588 CE), a renowned Sufi scholar and poet who was highly respected for his spiritual teachings.

Throughout history, the name Emad has been carried by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, statesmen, and military leaders. While the name has maintained its historical roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among Muslim communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Emad over time

The chart below shows babies named Emad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Emad, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Emad
0471114199620102024

Decades

Emad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Emad 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 #2469 45 5
2010s #2802 73 10
2000s #2855 47 9
1990s #2072 20 4

Related

Names similar to Emad

FAQ

Emad: questions and answers

How popular is the name Emad in the UK right now?

In 2024, Emad was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Emad most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 14 babies registered as Emad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Emad?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "pillar" or "support".

How many people are called Emad in the UK?

A total of 185 babies have been registered as Emad across the 28 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.