UK girl's name
Heeba
A feminine Arabic name meaning "gift" or "present".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Heeba is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Heeba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 4 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2003 to 2013. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Heeba. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Heeba ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 4 girls were registered as Heeba.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Heeba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5742
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
4 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Heeba mean?
The given name Heeba finds its origins in the Arabic language, with roots tracing back to the Middle Eastern region and the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries, when Arabic culture and Islamic influence were spreading across the region.
While the exact etymology of the name Heeba is somewhat uncertain, it is thought to be derived from the Arabic root word "hiba," which carries meanings related to gift, present, or bestowal. This connection suggests that the name Heeba may have been bestowed upon children as a symbolic expression of gratitude or as a representation of a precious gift.
In terms of historical references, the name Heeba does not appear to be prominently featured in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it has maintained a presence within Arabic-speaking communities throughout the centuries, albeit with varying degrees of popularity.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Heeba can be traced back to the 11th century, during the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. Records indicate a prominent scholar and poet named Heeba al-Basri, who lived between 1020 and 1090 CE and was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature.
Another notable figure bearing the name Heeba was Heeba al-Andalusi, a celebrated mathematician and astronomer from the 12th century. Born in 1165 in modern-day Spain, during the era of the Almohad Caliphate, she made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was highly regarded for her scientific works.
In the 13th century, Heeba al-Mawsiliyya, a renowned physician and medical writer, gained recognition for her expertise in the treatment of various ailments. Her medical treatises and writings on herbal remedies were widely circulated and studied during her time.
Moving forward to the 15th century, Heeba al-Dimashqi, a skilled calligrapher and artist from Damascus, left her mark on the world of Arabic calligraphy. Her intricate and beautiful artworks adorned numerous manuscripts and were highly sought after by patrons and collectors.
Another notable figure with the name Heeba was Heeba al-Khalili, a 16th-century poet and mystic from Baghdad. Her poetic works, often infused with spiritual themes and Sufi influences, garnered widespread acclaim and were widely circulated within literary circles of the time.
It is important to note that while these examples provide a glimpse into the historical presence of the name Heeba, the list is by no means exhaustive, as records from ancient times may be incomplete or have been lost over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Heeba over time
The chart below shows babies named Heeba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Heeba, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Heeba by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Heeba 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 | #5742 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4721 | 16 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Heeba
- 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
Heeba: questions and answers
How popular is the name Heeba in the UK right now?
In 2013, Heeba was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Heeba most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 4 babies registered as Heeba in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Heeba?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "gift" or "present".
How many people are called Heeba in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Heeba across the 6 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.