UK girl's name
Iqra
An Arabic name meaning "read" or "recite".
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.
Iqra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Iqra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #301, with 143 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 234 births.
This profile covers 4,452 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 61% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 4,549 living people in the UK are called Iqra. 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
- • Iqra ranked #301 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 143 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 234 girls were registered as Iqra.
- • Iqra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.
- • About 4,549 living people in the UK are estimated to have Iqra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#301
2024
Births in 2024
143
Latest year
Peak year
2002
234 births
Estimated living
4,549
2026
Meaning
What does Iqra mean?
The name Iqra is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Islamic religion. It is derived from the Arabic word "iqra'," which means "to read" or "to recite." The name is closely associated with the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century AD.
According to Islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Prophet Muhammad and commanded him to "read" or "recite" the first verses of the Quran. This event, known as the "Night of Power" or "Laylat al-Qadr," is celebrated annually during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The name Iqra is a reminder of this pivotal moment in Islamic history and the importance of seeking knowledge and education.
The earliest recorded use of the name Iqra can be traced back to the early days of Islam, shortly after the revelation of the Quran. However, it gained widespread popularity in the modern era, particularly in the Middle East and among Muslim communities worldwide.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Iqra is Iqra Khalid, a Pakistani women's rights activist and lawyer. She played a crucial role in the landmark case that led to the criminalization of acid attacks in Pakistan. Iqra Khalid was born in 1987 and has received numerous awards for her advocacy work.
Another notable figure is Iqra Anugrah, an Indonesian actress and model born in 1991. She has appeared in several television series and films, including the critically acclaimed "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" franchise.
In the field of sports, Iqra Rasool is a Pakistani cricketer who represented her national team in the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup. She was born in 1996 and is known for her all-round abilities as a batter and right-arm off-break bowler.
Iqra Al Qadhi is a Kuwaiti writer and poet who has published several collections of poetry and novels. She was born in 1967 and is celebrated for her vivid portrayal of Arab culture and women's experiences.
Iqra Aziz is a Pakistani actress and model born in 1997. She has gained widespread popularity for her roles in various television dramas and has won several awards for her performances.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Iqra throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to Islamic tradition and the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Iqra over time
The chart below shows babies named Iqra 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 Iqra, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 143 births in 2024, compared with 234 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Iqra by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Iqra 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 | #350 | 634 | 5 |
| 2010s | #337 | 1,417 | 10 |
| 2000s | #241 | 1,907 | 10 |
| 1990s | #300 | 494 | 4 |
Geography
Where Iqra is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Iqra. 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.
Iqra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.
Across the UK
Iqra in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#630 in 2023
23 years of NRS records, 122 total registered
Related
Names similar to Iqra
- Isabella 58,822
- Isla 51,854
- Isabelle 46,163
- Imogen 33,758
- Ivy 23,306
- Isabel 20,895
- Isobel 19,706
- Iris 10,353
- India 8,371
- Indie 3,873
- Iona 3,682
- Inaaya 3,591
FAQ
Iqra: questions and answers
How popular is the name Iqra in the UK right now?
In 2024, Iqra was ranked #301 for girls in England and Wales, with 143 births registered.
When was Iqra most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 234 babies registered as Iqra in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Iqra?
An Arabic name meaning "read" or "recite".
How many people are called Iqra in the UK?
A total of 4,452 babies have been registered as Iqra across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 122 more in Scotland.
Where is Iqra most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Iqra ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #630 in 2023. 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.