UK girl's name
Hadija
An Arabic feminine name meaning "guide" or "leader".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hadija is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hadija popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4838, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2008 to 2012. 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 15 living people in the UK are called Hadija. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hadija ranked #4838 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Hadija.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hadija as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4838
2012
Births in 2012
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Hadija mean?
The name Hadija has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is a feminine name derived from the root word "hady," which means "guidance" or "to guide." The name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and tradition.
In Islamic history, Hadija was the name of the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad. She was a wealthy and influential businesswoman in Mecca, and her marriage to Muhammad in 595 CE played a pivotal role in the early spread of Islam. Hadija was the first person to accept Muhammad's teachings and is revered as a significant figure in Islamic history.
The name Hadija can also be found in various ancient Arabic texts and literary works, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural significance. It has been used as a name for women throughout the centuries in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions with significant Muslim populations.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hadija was Hadija al-Qurashiyya, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent scholar of Islamic jurisprudence. She lived in the 7th century CE and played a crucial role in transmitting the teachings of the Prophet.
Another notable historical figure with the name Hadija was Hadija Bint Abi Bakr, who lived in the 7th century CE. She was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of the Islamic empire.
In the 12th century, Hadija al-Mahdawiyya was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Tunisia. Her spiritual teachings and literary works have had a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism and literature.
During the Ottoman Empire, Hadija Sultan was a prominent figure in the 16th century. She was the daughter of Sultan Selim I and played an influential role in the imperial court as a patron of the arts and architecture.
In more recent history, Hadija Lallji was a Tanzanian activist and politician who fought for women's rights and education in the 20th century. She was a member of the Tanzanian parliament and worked tirelessly to empower women in her country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hadija over time
The chart below shows babies named Hadija registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hadija, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2012, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hadija by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hadija 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 | #4865 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Hadija
- 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
Hadija: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hadija in the UK right now?
In 2012, Hadija was ranked #4838 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Hadija most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Hadija in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hadija?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "guide" or "leader".
How many people are called Hadija in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Hadija across the 4 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.