NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Imad

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "pillar" or "support".

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.

Imad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Imad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1951, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 18 births.

This profile covers 292 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 290 living people in the UK are called Imad. 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

  • Imad ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 18 boys were registered as Imad.
  • About 290 living people in the UK are estimated to have Imad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1951

2024

Births in 2024

12

Latest year

Peak year

2005

18 births

Estimated living

290

2026

Meaning

What does Imad mean?

The name Imad is of Arabic origin and has been in use since ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "imad," which means "pillar" or "support." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle Eastern region during the early Islamic era.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Imad can be found in the works of famous Arab poets and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries. It was a popular name among the elite and scholarly classes in the Islamic world, often given to individuals who were considered pillars of knowledge and wisdom.

In the 11th century, the name gained further prominence with the rise of the Seljuk Empire in Persia and Anatolia. One of the most notable figures bearing this name was Imad al-Din Zengi, a powerful Seljuk ruler who lived from 1085 to 1146 and played a significant role in the Crusades.

Another famous bearer of the name Imad was the renowned Persian poet and mystic, Imad al-Din Nasimi, who lived from 1369 to 1417. His poetry, which celebrated divine love and spiritual enlightenment, has been widely acclaimed and studied throughout the Islamic world.

In the 13th century, the name was also associated with the legendary Sufi mystic, Imad al-Din Muhammad al-Naqshbandi, the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. His teachings and spiritual practices have had a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism and continue to be followed by many Sufis today.

During the Ottoman Empire, the name Imad was particularly popular among the ruling elite and scholars. One notable figure was Imad al-Din al-Isfahani, a renowned 16th-century Ottoman historian and scholar who served as the chief judge of Istanbul and wrote extensively on Islamic history and jurisprudence.

Throughout history, the name Imad has been associated with strength, wisdom, and spiritual guidance, reflecting its meaning as a "pillar" or "support." It has been borne by scholars, mystics, rulers, and poets, leaving an indelible mark on the rich cultural tapestry of the Islamic world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Imad over time

The chart below shows babies named Imad 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 Imad, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Imad
0591418199620102024

Decades

Imad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Imad 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 #3184 32 5
2010s #2655 87 10
2000s #1319 139 10
1990s #1464 34 4

Related

Names similar to Imad

FAQ

Imad: questions and answers

How popular is the name Imad in the UK right now?

In 2024, Imad was ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.

When was Imad most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 18 babies registered as Imad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Imad?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "pillar" or "support".

How many people are called Imad in the UK?

A total of 292 babies have been registered as Imad 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.