UK boy's name
Ishraq
A masculine Arabic name meaning "sunrise" or "radiance".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ishraq is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ishraq popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 6 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2000 to 2022. 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 38 living people in the UK are called Ishraq. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ishraq ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 6 boys were registered as Ishraq.
- • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ishraq as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2002
6 births
Estimated living
38
2026
Meaning
What does Ishraq mean?
The name Ishraq finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "ishraq," which means "sunrise" or "radiance." This name has been in use since ancient times in the Arab world, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded examples of this name can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and writers from the 7th and 8th centuries. Ishraq was often used as a symbolic name, representing the beauty and brightness of the morning sun.
In Islamic literature, the term "ishraq" is also associated with a form of mystical philosophy known as "Illuminationism" or "Ishraqiyya," which was developed by the Persian philosopher Shihab al-Din Yahya Suhrawardi in the 12th century. This philosophical tradition emphasized the importance of divine illumination and the acquisition of knowledge through mystical experiences.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ishraq. One of the earliest recorded figures was Ishraq al-Maʿarri, a renowned Arab philosopher, poet, and writer who lived from 973 to 1057 CE. He was known for his critical and skeptical views on religion and society.
Another prominent figure was Ishraq Husain, an Indian poet, and scholar who lived from 1856 to 1937. He was a leading figure in the Urdu literary movement and contributed significantly to the development of modern Urdu poetry.
In the modern era, Ishraq Khan was a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a talented all-rounder and played a crucial role in several victories for his team.
Ishraq Al-Qudsi was a Palestinian political activist and writer who lived from 1930 to 2012. She was a prominent figure in the Palestinian liberation movement and advocated for women's rights and social justice.
Ishraq Hosseini is a contemporary Iranian-American author and filmmaker. She has written several books and produced films that explore themes of identity, culture, and women's experiences in the Middle East.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Ishraq throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and philosophy to sports and activism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ishraq over time
The chart below shows babies named Ishraq registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ishraq, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ishraq by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ishraq 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 | #4305 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4307 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3188 | 24 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Ishraq
- 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
Ishraq: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ishraq in the UK right now?
In 2022, Ishraq was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Ishraq most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 6 babies registered as Ishraq in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ishraq?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "sunrise" or "radiance".
How many people are called Ishraq in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Ishraq across the 10 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.