NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ishmam

A name derived from an Arabic word meaning "protection" or "safety".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2003. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ishmam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ishmam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2003 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2857, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 4 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2003. 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.

Ishmam is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Ishmam. 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 2004 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ishmam ranked #2857 for boys in England and Wales in 2003, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 4 boys were registered as Ishmam.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ishmam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2857

2003

Births in 2003

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

4 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Ishmam mean?

The name Ishmam finds its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic root word "ismah," which translates to "protection" or "safety." This etymology suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with the intention of seeking divine protection or blessings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ishmam can be traced back to the 9th century CE, when it was mentioned in various Arabic literary works and historical records. During this time, the name gained popularity among the Arab nobility and scholarly circles, possibly due to its auspicious meaning.

In Islamic tradition, the name Ishmam may have held significance as it resonates with the concept of "ismah," which refers to the infallibility or sinlessness attributed to prophets and religious leaders. However, there is no direct reference to the name Ishmam in religious scriptures or texts.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ishmam. One such individual was Ishmam al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE), a renowned Islamic philosopher, theologian, and mystic from Persia. His works, such as "The Revival of Religious Sciences" and "The Incoherence of the Philosophers," had a profound impact on Islamic thought and philosophy.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Ishmam al-Jahiz (776-868 CE), an Arabic prose writer and author from Basra, Iraq. He is renowned for his influential works on various subjects, including literature, zoology, and theology, and is considered one of the greatest Arabic writers of his time.

In the realm of poetry, Ishmam al-Mutanabbi (915-965 CE) stands out as a celebrated Arab poet from modern-day Iraq. His poetic works, which often praised patrons and rulers, are widely regarded as masterpieces of Arabic literature and have been studied and admired for centuries.

The name Ishmam also found its way into the world of Islamic scholarship and jurisprudence. One notable figure was Ishmam al-Shafi'i (767-820 CE), the founder of the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence. His contributions to the development of Islamic legal theory and methodology were significant, and his teachings continue to be studied and followed by millions of Muslims worldwide.

Finally, Ishmam al-Bukhari (810-870 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and compiler of hadith (prophetic traditions), deserves mention. His seminal work, "Sahih al-Bukhari," is considered one of the most authentic and authoritative collections of hadith in Sunni Islam, and his methodological approach to hadith compilation has been widely influential.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ishmam over time

The chart below shows babies named Ishmam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2003. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ishmam, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2003, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ishmam
01234199920012003

Decades

Ishmam by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ishmam 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
2000s #2947 7 2
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Ishmam

FAQ

Ishmam: questions and answers

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

In 2003, Ishmam was ranked #2857 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Ishmam most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 4 babies registered as Ishmam in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ishmam?

A name derived from an Arabic word meaning "protection" or "safety".

How many people are called Ishmam in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Ishmam across the 3 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.