NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Hessa

A feminine Arabic name meaning "strong, powerful woman".

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.

Hessa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hessa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 6 births.

This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 58 living people in the UK are called Hessa. 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

  • Hessa ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 6 girls were registered as Hessa.
  • About 58 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hessa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2007

6 births

Estimated living

58

2026

Meaning

What does Hessa mean?

The name Hessa has its origins in the Arabic language, where it is derived from the word "hassa," meaning "to feel" or "to perceive." This name has been in use for centuries within the Arab world, particularly in the Middle Eastern region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hessa can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher Al-Mutanabbi, who lived in the 10th century AD. He mentioned a woman named Hessa in one of his poems, praising her beauty and grace.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hessa. One such person was Hessa bint Ahmed Al Khalifa, a prominent member of the Bahraini royal family who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and dedication to promoting education for women in Bahrain.

Another notable Hessa was Hessa bint Salman Al Saud, a Saudi Arabian princess and member of the House of Saud, who lived from 1901 to 1969. She was renowned for her charitable work and support for various social causes in Saudi Arabia.

In the realm of literature, Hessa Al-Muhairi, an Emirati writer and poet, has made significant contributions. Born in 1959, she is known for her works that explore themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in the Gulf region.

Moving to the present day, Hessa Al-Jaber is a prominent Qatari businesswoman and entrepreneur. Born in 1959, she has played a crucial role in the development of the information and communication technology sector in Qatar and has been recognized for her efforts in promoting women's empowerment and leadership.

While these are just a few examples, the name Hessa has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle Eastern region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hessa over time

The chart below shows babies named Hessa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Hessa, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hessa
02356200320132024

Decades

Hessa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hessa 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 #5212 7 2
2010s #5283 25 7
2000s #4094 26 6

Related

Names similar to Hessa

FAQ

Hessa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Hessa in the UK right now?

In 2024, Hessa was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Hessa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 6 babies registered as Hessa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hessa?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "strong, powerful woman".

How many people are called Hessa in the UK?

A total of 58 babies have been registered as Hessa across the 15 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.