UK boy's name
Hatem
An Arabic masculine name meaning "generous" or "resolute" in character.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hatem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hatem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3048, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 6 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2012 to 2022. 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.
Hatem is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Hatem. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hatem ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 6 boys were registered as Hatem.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hatem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3048
2022
Births in 2022
6
Latest year
Peak year
2022
6 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Hatem mean?
The name Hatem has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, where it is derived from the word "Hatim," which means "decisive" or "resolute." The name has been in use for centuries and is particularly prevalent in the Middle East and North African regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hatem can be found in the famous Arabic literary work, "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), which dates back to the 9th century. In this work, Hatem is mentioned as the name of a renowned Arab poet and singer who lived during the 7th century.
The name Hatem gained particular significance in Islamic history due to its association with a legendary figure known as Hatem Al-Tai. Al-Tai was an Arab nobleman who lived in the 6th century and was renowned for his generosity and hospitality. Stories of his selflessness and kindness towards guests and strangers have been passed down through generations and have become a part of Islamic folklore.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hatem. One of the earliest known was Hatem ibn Hind al-Mughni (870-934 CE), a renowned Arabic singer and musician from Baghdad who was celebrated for his exceptional vocal talents.
Another prominent figure was Hatem Al-Tai (531-605 CE), the aforementioned legendary Arab nobleman known for his generosity, who is often cited as an exemplar of virtuous conduct in Islamic literature.
In more recent times, Hatem Ben Arfa (born 1987) is a French professional footballer of Tunisian descent who has represented the French national team and played for several prominent European clubs.
Hatem Bazian (born 1964) is an American academic and activist of Palestinian descent, known for his work on Islamophobia and his advocacy for Palestinian rights.
Hatem El-Gamasy (born 1959) is an Egyptian writer and intellectual who has authored several works on Arabic literature and culture.
While the name Hatem has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities, with individuals from diverse backgrounds embracing this name and carrying on its legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hatem over time
The chart below shows babies named Hatem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hatem, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hatem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hatem 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 | #3048 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4809 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Hatem
- 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
Hatem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hatem in the UK right now?
In 2022, Hatem was ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Hatem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 6 babies registered as Hatem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hatem?
An Arabic masculine name meaning "generous" or "resolute" in character.
How many people are called Hatem in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Hatem across the 3 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.