UK name, mostly girls
Hiyab
An Arabic name meaning concealment or veil.
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.
Hiyab is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Hiyab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1894, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 15 births.
This profile covers 83 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2011 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.
Hiyab is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 83 living people in the UK are called Hiyab. 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
- • Hiyab ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 15 girls were registered as Hiyab.
- • About 83 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hiyab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 89.2% of Hiyab registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1894
2024
Births in 2024
15
Latest year
Peak year
2024
15 births
Estimated living
83
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hiyab
In England and Wales birth records, Hiyab has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 10.8% of registrations are for boys and 89.2% 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.
Hiyab registered for boys
- Ranked #2,730 in 2021
- 7 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (7 births)
Hiyab registered for girls
- Ranked #1,894 in 2024
- 15 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (15 births)
Meaning
What does Hiyab mean?
The name Hiyab is a relatively uncommon given name that is believed to have originated in the Arabic language. Its roots can be traced back to the word "hijab," which means "veil" or "partition" in Arabic. This name likely first emerged during the early days of Islam, when veiling practices became widely adopted among Muslim women.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hiyab can be found in medieval Arabic literature, where it was sometimes used as a symbolic name to represent the concept of modesty and virtue. However, it is difficult to pinpoint specific historical figures who bore this name during that era, as record-keeping practices were not as meticulous as they are today.
The name Hiyab gained more prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations. One notable figure who carried this name was Hiyab Al-Muhanna (1884-1962), a Kuwaiti poet and writer who was known for her contributions to Arabic literature and her advocacy for women's education.
Another notable bearer of the name Hiyab was Hiyab Abdulrahman (1922-2002), a Sudanese politician and women's rights activist. She played a crucial role in the Sudanese women's movement and served as the first female minister in Sudan's government.
In the realm of literature, Hiyab Al-Fakhri (1923-2011) was a renowned Iraqi novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored themes of identity, tradition, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary Arab society.
Moving to the field of science, Hiyab Khalil (1932-2018) was a Palestinian-American physicist and academic. She made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and served as a professor at various prestigious universities in the United States.
Lastly, Hiyab Al-Jawhari (1940-2018) was a notable Egyptian actress and singer. She appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career and was known for her powerful vocal abilities and stage presence.
These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the name Hiyab throughout history, each making their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of their respective cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hiyab over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hiyab in England and Wales, from 2011 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 Hiyab, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hiyab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hiyab 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 | #2711 | 48 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4352 | 35 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Hiyab
- 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
Hiyab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hiyab in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hiyab was ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.
When was Hiyab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 15 babies registered as Hiyab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hiyab?
An Arabic name meaning concealment or veil.
How many people are called Hiyab in the UK?
A total of 83 babies have been registered as Hiyab across the 12 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.