UK girl's name
Houda
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "guide" or "rightly guided".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Houda is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Houda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 5 births.
This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1997 to 2015. 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 22 living people in the UK are called Houda. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Houda ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 5 girls were registered as Houda.
- • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Houda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
5 births
Estimated living
22
2026
Meaning
What does Houda mean?
The name Houda has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing its roots back to the Middle Eastern region during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "huda," which means "guidance" or "righteous path."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Houda can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, where it is mentioned as a feminine form of the word "huda." This association with divine guidance and spiritual enlightenment has contributed to the name's significance within the Islamic tradition.
Throughout history, the name Houda has been borne by several notable figures, including Houda Shaarawi (1879-1947), an Egyptian feminist and nationalist leader who played a pivotal role in the women's liberation movement in Egypt. Her activism and advocacy for women's rights left a lasting impact on the country's social and political landscape.
Another prominent figure with the name Houda was Houda Ben Amor (1932-2009), a Tunisian writer and literary critic. She was renowned for her contributions to Tunisian literature and her exploration of themes related to women's experiences and societal issues.
In the realm of sports, Houda Namous (born 1992) is a Moroccan professional tennis player who has represented her country in various international competitions. Her achievements on the court have brought recognition to the name Houda in the world of athletics.
Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo (born 1964) is a Bahraini businesswoman and former member of the Bahraini Shura Council. She has been recognized for her efforts in promoting women's empowerment and her contributions to the economic development of Bahrain.
Houda Al-Habash (born 1958) is a prominent Syrian writer and activist. Her literary works have shed light on the experiences of women in the Middle East, and she has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Houda throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and societal developments.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Houda over time
The chart below shows babies named Houda registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Houda, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Houda by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Houda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5161 | 11 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4080 | 8 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Houda
- 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
Houda: questions and answers
How popular is the name Houda in the UK right now?
In 2015, Houda was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Houda most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 5 babies registered as Houda in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Houda?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "guide" or "rightly guided".
How many people are called Houda in the UK?
A total of 22 babies have been registered as Houda across the 6 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.