UK girl's name
Halimatou
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "gentle" or "sweet-natured".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Halimatou is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Halimatou popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2017 to 2017. 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.
Halimatou is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Halimatou. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Halimatou ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 girls were registered as Halimatou.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Halimatou as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Halimatou mean?
The name Halimatou is of Arabic origin and is a variation of the name Halima, which means "gentle" or "mild." It is a feminine name that is primarily used in West and North African countries with significant Muslim populations.
Halimatou can be traced back to the 7th century, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Islamic tradition, Halima was the name of the woman who nursed and cared for the young Muhammad after his birth. As such, the name holds significant cultural and religious significance in the Muslim world.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Halimatou can be found in medieval Arabic texts and historical records. One notable example is Halimatou Bint Abi Dhuayb, a 7th-century Arab poet renowned for her eloquence and literary contributions.
Throughout history, several prominent women have borne the name Halimatou. One of the most famous was Halimatou Bah (1926-2022), a Guinean educator and activist who played a crucial role in promoting women's rights and education in her country. Another notable figure was Halimatou Diallo (1933-2012), a Senegalese writer and storyteller who was instrumental in preserving and sharing the oral traditions of her people.
In the 14th century, Halimatou Diarra (1340-1412) was a renowned scholar and jurist from the Mali Empire. She was known for her expertise in Islamic law and her contributions to the intellectual and cultural life of the region.
More recently, Halimatou Ayivi (1934-2018) was a Togolese politician and women's rights advocate who served as the first female president of the National Assembly of Togo from 1991 to 1994.
Halimatou Bah (born 1979) is a Guinean author and activist who has written extensively on issues of gender equality, human rights, and social justice in West Africa.
While the name Halimatou has its roots in the Arab world, it has since spread and gained popularity across various regions and cultures, particularly in West and North Africa, where it continues to be a cherished and meaningful name for girls.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Halimatou by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Halimatou 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 | #5765 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Halimatou
- 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
Halimatou: questions and answers
How popular is the name Halimatou in the UK right now?
In 2017, Halimatou was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Halimatou most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Halimatou in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Halimatou?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "gentle" or "sweet-natured".
How many people are called Halimatou in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Halimatou across the 1 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.