UK boy's name
Haleem
A masculine Arabic name meaning gentle, calm, or patient.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Haleem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Haleem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3451, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 8 births.
This profile covers 88 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1997 to 2021. 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 87 living people in the UK are called Haleem. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Haleem ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 8 boys were registered as Haleem.
- • About 87 living people in the UK are estimated to have Haleem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3451
2021
Births in 2021
5
Latest year
Peak year
2002
8 births
Estimated living
87
2026
Meaning
What does Haleem mean?
The name Haleem has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "halim," which means "gentle," "kind," or "forbearing." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, where Arabic is the predominant language.
Haleem is a masculine given name that has been used for centuries in the Arab world and Islamic cultures. It was particularly popular among Muslims, as the concept of gentleness and kindness is highly valued in Islamic teachings.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Haleem can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the name is mentioned as one of the attributes of God, describing Him as "Al-Halim," meaning "The Gentle One" or "The Forbearing One."
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Haleem. One of the earliest was Haleem ibn Hisham (d. 888 CE), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from Basra, Iraq. He was known for his mastery of the Arabic language and his contributions to literature.
Another famous bearer of the name was Haleem Khan (1737-1782), an Afghan ruler who served as the Emir of Kandahar and played a significant role in the political dynamics of the region during the 18th century.
In the field of literature, Haleem Hafiz (1903-1987) was a respected Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and social issues, and he was awarded the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honors.
Haleem Sharar (1860-1942) was an Indian Urdu writer and historian known for his works on the cultural and literary history of South Asia, particularly during the Mughal era.
In more recent times, Haleem Siddiqui (1944-2021) was a renowned Pakistani classical singer and composer, celebrated for his contributions to the revival and promotion of traditional Pakistani and South Asian music.
The name Haleem has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries and has been adopted by people of various backgrounds around the world, reflecting the universal appeal of the virtues it represents.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Haleem over time
The chart below shows babies named Haleem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Haleem, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Haleem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Haleem 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 | #3451 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4243 | 22 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2871 | 49 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2537 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Haleem
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Haleem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Haleem in the UK right now?
In 2021, Haleem was ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Haleem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 8 babies registered as Haleem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Haleem?
A masculine Arabic name meaning gentle, calm, or patient.
How many people are called Haleem in the UK?
A total of 88 babies have been registered as Haleem across the 20 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.