NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Islam

An Arabic name meaning "submission to the will of God".

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.

Islam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Islam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1595, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 16 births.

This profile covers 195 England and Wales registrations across 28 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 194 living people in the UK are called Islam. 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

  • Islam ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 16 boys were registered as Islam.
  • About 194 living people in the UK are estimated to have Islam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1595

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2003

16 births

Estimated living

194

2026

Meaning

What does Islam mean?

The name Islam has its roots in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "salaam," which means peace, submission, and obedience. The name is closely associated with the Islamic religion, which was founded in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula.

The name Islam first appeared in the holy book of Islam, the Quran, which is considered a sacred text by Muslims around the world. The Quran mentions the word "Islam" numerous times, and it is believed to be the name given to the religion by God.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Islam is found in the Sirat Ibn Hisham, a famous biography of the Prophet Muhammad written in the 8th century CE. The book mentions the name Islam as the religion revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Islam. One of the most famous was Islam Khan, a Mughal prince who lived in the 16th century CE. He was the son of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and played a significant role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire.

Another notable figure was Islam Shah, the Sultan of Bengal who ruled from 1349 to 1359 CE. He was known for his patronage of art, architecture, and literature, and his reign was marked by prosperity and cultural achievements.

In the 20th century, Islam Karimov was the first President of Uzbekistan, serving from 1991 to 2016. He was a prominent figure in the region and played a significant role in shaping Uzbekistan's post-Soviet identity.

Islam Siddiqui was a renowned Indian freedom fighter and politician who lived from 1892 to 1977. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and participated in the struggle for India's independence from British rule.

Islam Akhun was a Dagestani religious leader and scholar who lived from 1818 to 1888. He played a crucial role in the resistance against Russian colonial expansion in the Caucasus region and was known for his efforts to preserve the cultural and religious traditions of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Islam over time

The chart below shows babies named Islam 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 Islam, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Islam
0481216199620102024

Decades

Islam by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Islam 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 #2496 38 4
2010s #3120 64 10
2000s #2440 70 10
1990s #1990 23 4

Related

Names similar to Islam

FAQ

Islam: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Islam was ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Islam most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 16 babies registered as Islam in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Islam?

An Arabic name meaning "submission to the will of God".

How many people are called Islam in the UK?

A total of 195 babies have been registered as Islam across the 28 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.