UK name, mostly girls
Hareem
Of Arabic origin, meaning "forbidden" or "harem".
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.
Hareem is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Hareem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1302, with 25 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 101 births.
This profile covers 832 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2005 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 858 living people in the UK are called Hareem. 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
- • Hareem ranked #1302 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 25 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 101 girls were registered as Hareem.
- • Hareem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #406 in 2019.
- • About 858 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hareem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.6% of Hareem registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1302
2024
Births in 2024
25
Latest year
Peak year
2016
101 births
Estimated living
858
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hareem
In England and Wales birth records, Hareem has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.4% of registrations are for boys and 99.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Hareem registered for boys
- Ranked #4,647 in 2011
- 3 boys registered in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (3 births)
Hareem registered for girls
- Ranked #1,302 in 2024
- 25 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (101 births)
Meaning
What does Hareem mean?
The name Hareem has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have been derived from the word "haram," which means "sanctuary" or "sacred place." The name is closely associated with Islamic culture and tradition, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.
In ancient times, the term "haram" referred to a sacred space or precinct surrounding a holy site, such as the Kaaba in Mecca. The name Hareem may have been given to individuals born or residing in close proximity to such holy places, or to those who were tasked with guarding or maintaining these sacred spaces.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hareem can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries CE. These literary works often featured characters or individuals bearing the name, highlighting its cultural significance during that era.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hareem. One such individual was Hareem al-Rashid, a celebrated Arab mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century CE. His contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry were groundbreaking and influential during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Hareem ibn Khaldun, a renowned 14th-century Arab historian, philosopher, and social scientist. His seminal work, the "Muqaddimah," is considered a pioneering work in the fields of sociology, historiography, and economics, and remains widely studied and acclaimed to this day.
In the realm of literature, Hareem al-Basri, an 8th-century Arab poet and scholar, is remembered for his profound and influential works that explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. His poetry has been widely anthologized and studied across the Arab world and beyond.
Moving to more recent times, Hareem Pasha was a prominent 19th-century Ottoman statesman and diplomat. He served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and played a crucial role in implementing significant administrative and legal reforms during the Tanzimat period.
Another notable figure was Hareem Khan, an 18th-century Afghan warrior and military leader who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Durrani Empire. His military exploits and leadership skills were widely celebrated and chronicled in Afghan folklore and historical accounts.
The name Hareem has a rich cultural and historical legacy, deeply rooted in the Arabic language and Islamic tradition. Its association with sacred spaces, scholarship, and notable figures throughout history reflects its enduring significance and the diverse contributions of those who have borne this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hareem over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hareem in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Hareem, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 25 births in 2024, compared with 101 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hareem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hareem 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 | #1551 | 125 | 5 |
| 2010s | #827 | 685 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3776 | 22 | 4 |
Geography
Where Hareem is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Hareem. 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.
Hareem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #406 in 2019.
Across the UK
Hareem in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#406 in 2019
5 years of NRS records, 30 total registered
Related
Names similar to Hareem
- 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
Hareem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hareem in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hareem was ranked #1302 for girls in England and Wales, with 25 births registered.
When was Hareem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 101 babies registered as Hareem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hareem?
Of Arabic origin, meaning "forbidden" or "harem".
How many people are called Hareem in the UK?
A total of 832 babies have been registered as Hareem across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 30 more in Scotland.
Where is Hareem most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Hareem ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #406 in 2019. 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.