NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Habib

Beloved, dear, or darling, an Arabic masculine name of endearment.

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.

Habib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Habib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1595, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 26 births.

This profile covers 497 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 62% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 493 living people in the UK are called Habib. 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

  • Habib ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 26 boys were registered as Habib.
  • About 493 living people in the UK are estimated to have Habib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1595

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2001

26 births

Estimated living

493

2026

Meaning

What does Habib mean?

The name Habib has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "habib", which means "beloved" or "dear one". The name has been in use since ancient times and is deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Habib can be found in various Islamic texts and historical records. One of the most notable references is in the Qur'an, where it is mentioned as one of the attributes of Prophet Muhammad. The name also appears in various Hadith literature, which are the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet.

Throughout history, there have been numerous notable figures who bore the name Habib. One of the most famous was Habib al-Ajami (d. 737 CE), a renowned Muslim scholar and theologian from Basra, Iraq. Another prominent individual was Habib al-Faqih (d. 809 CE), a jurist and scholar from Kufa, Iraq.

In the 11th century, Habib al-Rahman al-Masri (d. 1094 CE) was a prominent Sufi saint and spiritual leader from Egypt. He is known for his contributions to the Shadhili Sufi order and his influence on Islamic mysticism.

During the Mamluk period in Egypt, Habib ibn Abi al-Bayya' (d. 1286 CE) was a respected poet and scholar who served as the chief judge of Cairo.

In more recent times, Habib Bourguiba (1903-2000) was a prominent Tunisian statesman and the first president of independent Tunisia, serving from 1957 to 1987.

The name Habib has also been widely used across various regions and cultures influenced by Islam, including parts of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. While its popularity may have fluctuated over time, the name remains deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and holds significant historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Habib over time

The chart below shows babies named Habib 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 Habib, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 26 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Habib
07132026199620102024

Decades

Habib by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Habib 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 #1845 67 5
2010s #1567 156 10
2000s #1009 208 10
1990s #917 66 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Habib

  • Habib Nasib Nader

    actor; television actor

    British actor

    1979-

  • Habib Zaidi

    general practitioner

    believed to be the first doctor to die of COVID-19 in the UK during the 2020 pandemic

    1943-2020

Related

Names similar to Habib

FAQ

Habib: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Habib was ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Habib most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 26 babies registered as Habib in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Habib?

Beloved, dear, or darling, an Arabic masculine name of endearment.

How many people are called Habib in the UK?

A total of 497 babies have been registered as Habib across the 29 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.