UK girl's name
Habibah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beloved" or "loved one".
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.
Habibah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Habibah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 32 births.
This profile covers 404 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 406 living people in the UK are called Habibah. 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
- • Habibah ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 32 girls were registered as Habibah.
- • Habibah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #606 in 2006.
- • About 406 living people in the UK are estimated to have Habibah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2007
32 births
Estimated living
406
2026
Meaning
What does Habibah mean?
The name Habibah 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 is commonly associated with Islam and is found in various Islamic texts and traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Habibah can be traced back to the 7th century CE. It was the name of Habibah bint Abi Sufyan, who was one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad. Her marriage to the Prophet played a significant role in strengthening the ties between the Quraysh tribe and the early Muslim community.
In Islamic literature, the name Habibah is often used as a term of endearment and affection. It is mentioned in several hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and is considered a virtuous name for Muslim women.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women who bore the name Habibah. One such figure was Habibah Sultan Begum (1590-1619), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Jahangir. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her contributions to the cultural landscape of the Mughal Empire.
Another prominent Habibah was Habibah of Zanzibar (1845-1890), a princess and the daughter of Sultan Sayyid Said of Oman and Zanzibar. She played a significant role in the political affairs of Zanzibar and was known for her intelligence and leadership.
In more recent times, Habibah Abdul Qadir (1914-2008) was an Egyptian writer and intellectual who made significant contributions to the Arabic literary world. Her works explored themes of feminism, social justice, and the role of women in society.
Habibah Baobaid (born 1951) is a Moroccan-French author and activist who has written extensively on issues related to women's rights, immigration, and cultural identity. Her works have been widely translated and have gained international recognition.
These are just a few examples of the historical and cultural significance of the name Habibah. It has been a name of importance and distinction throughout various regions and time periods, carrying with it a meaning of love, affection, and endearment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Habibah over time
The chart below shows babies named Habibah 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 Habibah, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Habibah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Habibah 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 | #2922 | 41 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2235 | 126 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1213 | 204 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2360 | 33 | 4 |
Geography
Where Habibah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Habibah. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Habibah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #606 in 2006.
Across the UK
Habibah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#606 in 2006
1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Habibah
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Habibah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Habibah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Habibah was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Habibah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 32 babies registered as Habibah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Habibah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beloved" or "loved one".
How many people are called Habibah in the UK?
A total of 404 babies have been registered as Habibah across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.
Where is Habibah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Habibah ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #606 in 2006. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.