UK boy's name
Hisham
A masculine Arabic given name meaning "generous" or "noble".
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.
Hisham is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hisham popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1235, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 32 births.
This profile covers 498 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 69% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 497 living people in the UK are called Hisham. 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
- • Hisham ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 32 boys were registered as Hisham.
- • Hisham ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
- • About 497 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hisham as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1235
2024
Births in 2024
22
Latest year
Peak year
2010
32 births
Estimated living
497
2026
Meaning
What does Hisham mean?
The name Hisham is derived from Arabic and has its origins in the Middle East. It is believed to have emerged during the 7th century AD, shortly after the advent of Islam. The name is thought to be derived from the Arabic root word "hashama," which means "to speak harshly" or "to criticize."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hisham can be found in the Quran, where it is mentioned as the name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. This companion, Hisham ibn al-Walid, played a significant role in the early Muslim community and was known for his bravery and loyalty.
The name Hisham gained further prominence in the 8th century AD, when it was adopted by the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (691-743 AD). Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik was the 10th caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate and is remembered for his successful military campaigns and administrative reforms.
Another notable figure in history who bore the name Hisham was the Arab philosopher and historian Hisham ibn al-Kalbi (737-819 AD). He was a prominent scholar of his time and wrote extensively on topics such as genealogy, history, and literature.
In the realm of literature, the name Hisham is associated with Hisham al-Kulayb (8th century AD), a renowned Arab poet and writer. His works were highly regarded and celebrated for their linguistic mastery and poetic expression.
During the 12th century AD, the name Hisham was carried by Hisham al-Mu'taman ibn Hud (1083-1153 AD), the ruler of the Taifa of Zaragoza in present-day Spain. He was known for his patronage of the arts and his efforts to promote cultural exchange between Muslim and Christian communities.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Hisham throughout history. The name has maintained its popularity across the Arab world and has been adopted by people of various cultures and backgrounds, reflecting its rich heritage and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hisham over time
The chart below shows babies named Hisham registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Hisham, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hisham by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hisham 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 | #1835 | 67 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1332 | 199 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1067 | 194 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1324 | 38 | 4 |
Geography
Where Hisham is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Hisham. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Hisham ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
Across the UK
Hisham in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#429 in 2000
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Hisham
-
Hisham Mehanna
researcher
researcher
1969-
Related
Names similar to Hisham
- 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
Hisham: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hisham in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hisham was ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.
When was Hisham most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 32 babies registered as Hisham in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hisham?
A masculine Arabic given name meaning "generous" or "noble".
How many people are called Hisham in the UK?
A total of 498 babies have been registered as Hisham across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Hisham most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Hisham ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #429 in 2000. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.