NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Fathia

A feminine Arabic name meaning "she who glows" or "shining".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Fathia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fathia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 13 births.

This profile covers 61 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2004 to 2019. 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 23% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 61 living people in the UK are called Fathia. 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 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Fathia ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 13 girls were registered as Fathia.
  • About 61 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fathia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5591

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

13 births

Estimated living

61

2026

Meaning

What does Fathia mean?

The name Fathia has its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is a feminine given name derived from the Arabic word "fath," which means "victory" or "conquest." The name is believed to have originated during the early Islamic era, possibly around the 7th or 8th century CE.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fathia can be found in the text of the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. In the Qur'an, the word "fath" is used to refer to victories and conquests, both in a spiritual and military sense. This association with the concept of victory likely contributed to the name's meaning and popularity within the Islamic world.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fathia. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Fathia bint al-Husayn (born around 630 CE), a granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. She was known for her piety and devotion to Islam and is revered by Muslims as a member of the Ahl al-Bayt, the household of the Prophet.

Another prominent figure was Fathia al-Bayhaqi (born around 1050 CE), a Persian scholar and poet from the Seljuk Empire. She was renowned for her expertise in various fields, including literature, philosophy, and Islamic jurisprudence. Her works, which included poetry and scholarly treatises, were highly influential during her time.

In more recent history, Fathia Nkrumah (1932-1968) was a prominent Egyptian-Ghanaian activist and the wife of Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of independent Ghana. She played a significant role in the Ghanaian independence movement and was actively involved in promoting pan-Africanism and women's rights.

Fathia Fuad El-Nawawy (1924-2015) was an Egyptian feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and gender equality in Egypt. She founded several organizations dedicated to empowering women and improving their legal and social status in the country.

Another notable figure was Fathia Bint Mubarak Al Nahyan (born 1964), a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates. She has been involved in various philanthropic and charitable endeavors, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

The name Fathia continues to be popular in many Arabic-speaking countries and among Muslim communities around the world. Its rich history and association with victory and triumph have contributed to its enduring appeal and significance within the Islamic tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Fathia over time

The chart below shows babies named Fathia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Fathia, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Fathia
0371013200420112019

Decades

Fathia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fathia 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
2010s #4727 21 5
2000s #3410 40 6

Related

Names similar to Fathia

FAQ

Fathia: questions and answers

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

In 2019, Fathia was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Fathia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 13 babies registered as Fathia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Fathia?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "she who glows" or "shining".

How many people are called Fathia in the UK?

A total of 61 babies have been registered as Fathia 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.