UK boy's name
Imran
A masculine Arabic name meaning "prosperous" or "high" in rank.
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.
Imran is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Imran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #453, with 89 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 101 births.
This profile covers 2,176 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 88% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,353 living people in the UK are called Imran. 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
- • Imran ranked #453 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 89 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 101 boys were registered as Imran.
- • Imran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #478 in 2024.
- • About 2,353 living people in the UK are estimated to have Imran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#453
2024
Births in 2024
89
Latest year
Peak year
1996
101 births
Estimated living
2,353
2026
Meaning
What does Imran mean?
The name Imran is of Arabic origin and is derived from the root word "amr" which means "prosperous" or "thriving." It is a masculine name with a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Islamic tradition.
The name Imran is mentioned in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, as the father of Mary and the grandfather of Jesus. He is revered as a prophet in Islamic tradition and is associated with the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Imran can be found in the Quran, where it is mentioned in Surah Al-Imran (Chapter 3), which is named after the father of Mary. This chapter narrates the story of Mary's conception and birth, as well as the birth of Jesus.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Imran. One of the most famous is Imran Khan, the former cricketer and current Prime Minister of Pakistan, born in 1952. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and has also been involved in philanthropic efforts and political activism.
Another prominent figure with the name Imran is Imran Tahir, a South African cricketer born in 1979, who has represented South Africa in international cricket and is known for his exceptional spin bowling skills.
Imran Sherwani, an Indian actor and film producer born in 1942, has also carried the name with distinction. He has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and has made significant contributions to the Indian entertainment industry.
In the realm of literature, Imran Hussain, a British writer and novelist born in 1985, has gained recognition for his works exploring themes of identity, migration, and cultural diversity.
Imran Qureshi, a Pakistani artist born in 1972, is renowned for his intricate and vibrant miniature paintings, which have been exhibited globally and have earned him numerous accolades in the art world.
The name Imran has a rich and diverse history, spanning various cultures and disciplines, and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Imran over time
The chart below shows babies named Imran 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 Imran, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 89 births in 2024, compared with 101 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Imran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Imran 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 | #558 | 347 | 5 |
| 2010s | #501 | 783 | 10 |
| 2000s | #421 | 706 | 10 |
| 1990s | #309 | 340 | 4 |
Geography
Where Imran is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Imran. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Imran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #478 in 2024.
Across the UK
Imran in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#478 in 2024
31 years of NRS records, 199 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Imran
-
Imran Hussain
politician
British politician (born 1978)
1978-
-
Imran Shah
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1978)
1978-
-
Imran Ahmed
business executive; political adviser
CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate
1978-
-
Imran Rasul
economist
economist (University College London (UCL); Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS))
1974-
-
Imran Chaudhri
designer
British-American designer
1973-
-
Imran Ahmad Khan
politician
British politician (born 1973)
1973-
-
Imran Jamshed
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1973)
1973-
-
Imran Majid
pool player
English pool player
1972-
Related
Names similar to Imran
- 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
Imran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Imran in the UK right now?
In 2024, Imran was ranked #453 for boys in England and Wales, with 89 births registered.
When was Imran most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 101 babies registered as Imran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Imran?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "prosperous" or "high" in rank.
How many people are called Imran in the UK?
A total of 2,176 babies have been registered as Imran across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 199 more in Scotland.
Where is Imran most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Imran ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #478 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.