UK girl's name
Hoda
An Arabic feminine name meaning "guiding path" or "right path".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hoda is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hoda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3533, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10 births.
This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Hoda. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hoda ranked #3533 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 10 girls were registered as Hoda.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hoda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3533
2022
Births in 2022
6
Latest year
Peak year
1996
10 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Meaning
What does Hoda mean?
The name Hoda has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "huda," which means "guidance" or "right path." The name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hoda can be found in the Quran, the sacred text of Islam. In the Quran, the word "huda" is used to refer to the guidance provided by Allah to humanity.
Throughout history, the name Hoda has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest known figures with this name was Hoda bint al-Husayn (born around 670 CE), who was a renowned scholar and poet during the Umayyad Caliphate.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Hoda Shaarawi (1879-1947), an Egyptian feminist leader and activist who played a significant role in the women's liberation movement in Egypt. She was one of the founders of the Egyptian Feminist Union and worked tirelessly to improve the rights and status of women in her country.
In the 20th century, Hoda Barakat (born 1952) is a renowned Lebanese novelist and writer. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary Arabic writers and has received numerous literary awards for her works, which often explore themes of identity, exile, and the complexities of human relationships.
Hoda Kotb (born 1964) is an American television broadcaster and author. She is currently the co-anchor of the NBC News morning show "Today" and has gained widespread recognition for her warmth, resilience, and advocacy for various causes.
Hoda Rahmati (born 1977) is an Iranian actress and filmmaker. She has starred in several acclaimed Iranian films and has directed several short films, gaining recognition for her work in promoting women's rights and addressing social issues through her art.
The name Hoda has transcended its Arabic origins and has been embraced by various cultures and communities around the world. While its popularity may have ebbed and flowed over time, the name continues to resonate with its meaningful connotations of guidance and direction, making it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with deep historical and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hoda over time
The chart below shows babies named Hoda registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hoda, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2022, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hoda by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hoda 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 | #3747 | 11 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4862 | 24 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3463 | 37 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2646 | 19 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Hoda
- 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
Hoda: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hoda in the UK right now?
In 2022, Hoda was ranked #3533 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Hoda most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 10 babies registered as Hoda in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hoda?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "guiding path" or "right path".
How many people are called Hoda in the UK?
A total of 91 babies have been registered as Hoda across the 19 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.