NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Habil

An Arabic name meaning "amiable, friendly, or pleasant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Habil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Habil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.

This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Habil. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Habil ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 boys were registered as Habil.
  • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Habil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3959

2018

Births in 2018

4

Latest year

Peak year

2004

5 births

Estimated living

24

2026

Meaning

What does Habil mean?

The name Habil has its origins in the Arabic language, derived from the root word "habil" which means "gentle" or "mild". It is a variant of the name Abel, which is found in the Bible and other Abrahamic religious texts.

The earliest recorded use of the name Habil can be traced back to the Qur'an, where it refers to the son of Adam and Eve who was slain by his brother Cain (Qabil in Arabic). This biblical narrative has been influential in the naming traditions of various cultures and religions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

In Islamic tradition, Habil is revered as a righteous and obedient individual whose sacrifice was accepted by God. His name is often associated with virtues such as patience, humility, and devotion.

One notable figure in history who bore the name Habil was Habil ibn Qais, a famous Arab poet and warrior who lived in the 6th century CE. He was known for his eloquence and bravery in battle, and his poetry has been widely celebrated in the Arabic literary tradition.

Another prominent individual named Habil was Habil al-Qurti, a 10th-century Muslim scholar and philosopher from Cordoba, Spain. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and logic during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization.

In the 12th century, Habil ibn Muhammad al-Harrani was a renowned Arab astronomer and mathematician from present-day Syria. He is credited with developing advanced astronomical instruments and contributing to the study of celestial mechanics.

Habil al-Barqi, born in 1307 CE in present-day Iraq, was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet whose works explored themes of divine love and spiritual enlightenment. His poetic anthology, Diwan al-Habil al-Barqi, is widely read and studied in the Islamic world.

In more recent times, Habil Delgado (1906-1983) was a prominent Ecuadorian poet and diplomat, known for his contributions to the literary movement of "criollismo" which celebrated the country's diverse cultural heritage.

While the name Habil has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic tradition, it has been adopted and used in various cultures and societies throughout history, often carrying connotations of gentleness, righteousness, and devotion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Habil over time

The chart below shows babies named Habil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Habil, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Habil
01345199620072018

Decades

Habil by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Habil 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 #4506 10 3
2000s #3285 11 3
1990s #2863 3 1

Related

Names similar to Habil

FAQ

Habil: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Habil was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Habil most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Habil in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Habil?

An Arabic name meaning "amiable, friendly, or pleasant".

How many people are called Habil in the UK?

A total of 24 babies have been registered as Habil across the 7 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.