NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Hidayah

A feminine Arabic name meaning guidance or spiritual direction.

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.

Hidayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hidayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #686, with 55 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 55 births.

This profile covers 418 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2005 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.

Hidayah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 416 living people in the UK are called Hidayah. 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

  • Hidayah ranked #686 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 55 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 55 girls were registered as Hidayah.
  • About 416 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hidayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#686

2024

Births in 2024

55

Latest year

Peak year

2024

55 births

Estimated living

416

2026

Meaning

What does Hidayah mean?

The name Hidayah is derived from the Arabic language and can be traced back to the 7th century. It is derived from the word "hidayah," which means "guidance" or "direction" in Arabic. This name has its roots in the Islamic faith and is often associated with spiritual enlightenment and finding the right path in life.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Hidayah can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The word "hidayah" is mentioned several times in the Quran, emphasizing the importance of seeking guidance from Allah and following the righteous path.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Hidayah. One of the most famous was Hidayah al-Baghdadi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 11th century. He was born in Baghdad (present-day Iraq) and was known for his contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable figure with the name Hidayah was Hidayah bint Ismail, a 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet from Persia (present-day Iran). Her poetry was widely celebrated for its spiritual depth and insight, and she is considered one of the most influential female Sufi poets of her time.

In the 15th century, there was Hidayah al-Sindi, a prominent Islamic scholar and teacher from Sindh (present-day Pakistan). He was known for his expertise in the fields of hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and Islamic law, and his teachings were highly respected throughout the region.

Moving forward to the 19th century, there was Hidayah Khanum, a notable Persian princess and poet. She was born in 1828 and was highly regarded for her literary talents, as well as her patronage of the arts and culture.

Lastly, in the 20th century, there was Hidayah Amin, an Egyptian feminist and activist who played a significant role in the women's rights movement in Egypt. She was born in 1905 and dedicated her life to advocating for gender equality, education, and social reform.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Hidayah, showcasing its rich cultural and religious significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hidayah over time

The chart below shows babies named Hidayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Hidayah, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 55 births in 2024, compared with 55 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hidayah
014284155200520142024

Decades

Hidayah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hidayah 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 #885 206 5
2010s #1859 198 10
2000s #3962 14 3

Related

Names similar to Hidayah

FAQ

Hidayah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Hidayah was ranked #686 for girls in England and Wales, with 55 births registered.

When was Hidayah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 55 babies registered as Hidayah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hidayah?

A feminine Arabic name meaning guidance or spiritual direction.

How many people are called Hidayah in the UK?

A total of 418 babies have been registered as Hidayah across the 18 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.