UK name, mostly girls
Hilal
A feminine Arabic name meaning "crescent moon" or "new moon".
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.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 43 boys.
Hilal is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Hilal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 8 births.
This profile covers 53 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 2000 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 53 living people in the UK are called Hilal. 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
- • Hilal ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 8 girls were registered as Hilal.
- • Hilal is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 53 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hilal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 55.2% of Hilal registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
8 births
Estimated living
53
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hilal
In England and Wales birth records, Hilal has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 44.8% of registrations are for boys and 55.2% 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.
Hilal registered for boys
- Ranked #4,270 in 2024
- 4 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2013 (5 births)
Hilal registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (8 births)
Meaning
What does Hilal mean?
The name Hilal originates from the Arabic language, and its origins can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The word "hilal" in Arabic means crescent moon, and it is derived from the root word "h-l-l," which means to appear or to become visible.
The name Hilal is often associated with the sighting of the new crescent moon, which marks the beginning of a new month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This connection to the crescent moon has given the name a symbolic meaning of renewal, growth, and hope.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hilal can be found in the Quran, where it is mentioned in relation to the phases of the moon. Additionally, the name appears in various Islamic texts and historical records from the early days of Islam.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hilal. One of the earliest was Hilal al-Sabi (d. 1056), an Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. Another prominent figure was Hilal al-Basri (d. 863), a Persian scholar and poet who was renowned for his works on Arabic grammar and literature.
In the realm of literature, Hilal al-Muhandis (d. 1038) was a celebrated Arab poet and playwright from Baghdad. His works were influential in shaping the development of Arabic poetry and drama.
During the medieval period, Hilal ibn al-Muhassin al-Sabi (fl. 10th century) was an Arab physician and scientist who made notable contributions to the field of medicine and natural sciences.
More recently, Hilal Salama (1941-2012) was an Egyptian novelist and playwright whose works explored themes of social and political commentary in the Arab world.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Hilal, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural heritage associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hilal over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hilal in England and Wales, from 2000 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 Hilal, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hilal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hilal 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 | #5207 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4314 | 11 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4401 | 28 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Hilal
- 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
Hilal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hilal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hilal was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hilal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 8 babies registered as Hilal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hilal?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "crescent moon" or "new moon".
How many people are called Hilal in the UK?
A total of 53 babies have been registered as Hilal across the 14 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.