NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Fahmida

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "profound understanding" or "one who has insight".

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.

Fahmida is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fahmida popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 45 births.

This profile covers 440 England and Wales registrations across 25 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 7% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 437 living people in the UK are called Fahmida. 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

  • Fahmida ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 45 girls were registered as Fahmida.
  • About 437 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fahmida as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

45 births

Estimated living

437

2026

Meaning

What does Fahmida mean?

The name Fahmida is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "fahm," which means "understanding" or "comprehension." It is a feminine name that first emerged in the Middle East during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE.

The name Fahmida is closely associated with Islamic culture and is believed to have been inspired by the teachings of the Quran, which emphasize the importance of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. In Arabic literature, the name is often used as a symbol of intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fahmida can be found in historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast territory spanning parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia from the 8th to the 13th century. During this period, the name gained popularity among Muslim scholars and intellectuals.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fahmida. One such example is Fahmida Riaz (1935-2018), a renowned Pakistani poet, and feminist activist whose works explored themes of social injustice, women's rights, and political oppression. Her poetry collections, such as "Awaz" and "Badan Dareeda," are considered seminal works in Urdu literature.

Another notable Fahmida was Fahmida Khatun (1950-1992), a Bangladeshi freedom fighter who played a crucial role in the country's liberation struggle against Pakistan in 1971. She was posthumously awarded the Bir Protik, the highest military award in Bangladesh, for her bravery and sacrifice.

In the realm of science, Fahmida Bangera (1955-present) is a distinguished Indian physicist and academic. She is known for her contributions to the field of nuclear physics and has held prestigious positions, including the Director of the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar, India.

Fahmida Chowdhury (1937-2021) was a prominent Bangladeshi academic and activist who advocated for women's rights and education. She served as the Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University and played a pivotal role in promoting gender equality in education in Bangladesh.

Fahmida Mirza (1927-2023) was a Pakistani writer, poet, and feminist activist who dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights and social reform. Her literary works, including the novel "The Bird of Time," explored themes of identity, gender roles, and the struggles of women in Pakistan's patriarchal society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Fahmida over time

The chart below shows babies named Fahmida 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 Fahmida, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 45 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Fahmida
011233445199620102024

Decades

Fahmida by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fahmida 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 #5736 6 2
2010s #3873 65 9
2000s #1211 218 10
1990s #653 151 4

Related

Names similar to Fahmida

FAQ

Fahmida: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Fahmida was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Fahmida most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 45 babies registered as Fahmida in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Fahmida?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "profound understanding" or "one who has insight".

How many people are called Fahmida in the UK?

A total of 440 babies have been registered as Fahmida across the 25 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.