NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Fahima

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "having understanding" or "intelligent".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Fahima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fahima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 55 births.

This profile covers 571 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 567 living people in the UK are called Fahima. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Fahima ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 55 girls were registered as Fahima.
  • About 567 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fahima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5687

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2002

55 births

Estimated living

567

2026

Meaning

What does Fahima mean?

The name Fahima is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "fahm," which means "understanding" or "comprehension." This suggests that the name Fahima may have been given to individuals who were perceived as intelligent or insightful.

The earliest recorded use of the name Fahima can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. It was a relatively common name among Arab communities, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa regions.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Fahima was Fahima bint Amr al-Ansariya, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century CE. She was known for her wisdom and knowledge of Islamic teachings.

Another notable figure from history was Fahima al-Fahhamiyya, a 9th-century Arab poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was renowned for her literary works and her expertise in various fields, including poetry, grammar, and Islamic jurisprudence.

In the 11th century, Fahima al-Waziriyya was a prominent female scholar and poet from Baghdad. She was highly respected for her intellectual contributions and her mastery of Arabic literature and Islamic sciences.

During the 12th century, Fahima bint Ibrahim al-Ansari was a celebrated Sufi mystic and scholar from Egypt. She was known for her spiritual teachings and her significant contributions to the development of Sufism in the region.

In more recent history, Fahima Masri was a Palestinian writer and activist who lived from 1924 to 2008. She was a prominent figure in the Palestinian literary scene and was known for her advocacy for women's rights and social justice.

While the name Fahima has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has been adopted and used in various other cultures and regions over time, reflecting its enduring appeal and the diverse backgrounds of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Fahima over time

The chart below shows babies named Fahima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Fahima, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 55 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Fahima
014284155199620092023

Decades

Fahima by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fahima 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 #5608 12 4
2010s #3208 89 10
2000s #954 315 10
1990s #639 155 4

Related

Names similar to Fahima

FAQ

Fahima: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Fahima was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Fahima most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 55 babies registered as Fahima in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Fahima?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "having understanding" or "intelligent".

How many people are called Fahima in the UK?

A total of 571 babies have been registered as Fahima 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.