UK name, mostly boys
Ihsan
An Arabic masculine name meaning beneficence, virtue or excellence.
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.
Ihsan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Ihsan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1322, with 20 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 34 births.
This profile covers 456 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 59% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 453 living people in the UK are called Ihsan. 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
- • Ihsan ranked #1322 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 20 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 34 boys were registered as Ihsan.
- • About 453 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ihsan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.3% of Ihsan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1322
2024
Births in 2024
20
Latest year
Peak year
2011
34 births
Estimated living
453
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ihsan
In England and Wales birth records, Ihsan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 93.3% of registrations are for boys and 6.7% 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.
Ihsan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,322 in 2024
- 20 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (34 births)
Ihsan registered for girls
- Ranked #4,843 in 2024
- 4 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Ihsan mean?
The name Ihsan originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "ihsan," which means "excellence" or "perfection." The name has been in use for centuries and is associated with virtues such as kindness, compassion, and benevolence.
Ihsan is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as a concept that emphasizes the importance of doing good deeds with sincerity and excellence. The Quranic verse, "Verily, Allah enjoins justice and ihsan (excellence)," (Quran 16:90) highlights the significance of this name and its meaning.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ihsan can be found in the famous work of Islamic literature, "The Book of Misers" by Al-Jahiz, a 9th-century Arab prose writer and literary theorist. In this book, Al-Jahiz mentions a character named Ihsan ibn Thabit, who was known for his generosity and good deeds.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ihsan. One such individual was Ihsan Doğramacı (1915-2010), a Turkish physician and academician who played a significant role in establishing the Hacettepe University in Ankara and served as its first rector. He was also the founder of the World Health Organization's International Children's Center and received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to medicine and education.
Another prominent figure was Ihsan al-Nuri (1834-1892), an Ottoman statesman and historian who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1887 to 1891. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Ottoman Empire and his historical writings, including "The History of Baghdad."
In the field of literature, Ihsan Abdel Quddous (1919-1990) was an Egyptian novelist, playwright, and journalist. His works, such as "I Am Free" and "The Prostitute," tackled social and political issues in Egypt and contributed significantly to the development of modern Arabic literature.
Ihsan Ali al-Shurji (1898-1969) was an Iraqi poet and writer who played a prominent role in the Iraqi literary renaissance of the 20th century. His poetry collections, including "The Book of Roses" and "The Book of Love," were widely acclaimed and celebrated for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth.
Lastly, Ihsan Seddon (1923-2021) was a New Zealand politician and the first woman of Pacific Island descent to be elected to the New Zealand Parliament. She served as a member of parliament from 1972 to 1981 and was known for her advocacy for women's rights and social justice.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ihsan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ihsan in England and Wales, 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 Ihsan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 20 births in 2024, compared with 34 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ihsan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ihsan 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 | #1927 | 63 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1338 | 212 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1364 | 146 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1484 | 35 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ihsan
- Isaac 49,129
- Ibrahim 14,115
- Ismail 4,679
- Isaiah 4,629
- Idris 3,810
- Ivan 3,146
- Isa 2,943
- Ian 2,805
- Ilyas 2,552
- Ieuan 2,515
- Ibraheem 2,384
- Ioan 2,295
FAQ
Ihsan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ihsan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ihsan was ranked #1322 for boys in England and Wales, with 20 births registered.
When was Ihsan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 34 babies registered as Ihsan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ihsan?
An Arabic masculine name meaning beneficence, virtue or excellence.
How many people are called Ihsan in the UK?
A total of 456 babies have been registered as Ihsan across the 29 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.