UK boy's name
Jamaal
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
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.
Jamaal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jamaal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 30 births.
This profile covers 432 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 37% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 428 living people in the UK are called Jamaal. 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
- • Jamaal ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 30 boys were registered as Jamaal.
- • About 428 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jamaal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2005
30 births
Estimated living
428
2026
Meaning
What does Jamaal mean?
The name Jamaal has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "jamal," which means beauty or perfection. The name can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early days of Islam.
Jamaal is a variant spelling of the more common Arabic name "Jamal." The earliest known use of the name Jamaal can be found in historical records from the Middle East and North Africa. It was a popular name among Arab families during the medieval period.
In Islamic tradition, the name Jamaal is believed to have a connection with the concept of divine beauty. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, contains references to the beauty and perfection of God's creation, which may have influenced the popularity of names like Jamaal.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jamaal was Jamaal al-Din al-Afghani, an influential Islamic philosopher and political activist who lived from 1838 to 1897. He played a significant role in the late 19th-century Islamic revivalist movement.
Another notable figure was Jamaal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and dissident who was assassinated in 2018. His murder sparked international outrage and drew attention to issues of human rights and press freedom in Saudi Arabia.
In the realm of sports, Jamaal Wilkes, an American professional basketball player, had a successful career with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. He was born in 1953 and won four NBA championships during his playing career.
Jamaal Tinsley, an American professional basketball player born in 1978, spent several years as a point guard in the NBA, primarily with the Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jamaal Magloire, a Canadian professional basketball player born in 1978, played center in the NBA for teams like the New Orleans Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks. He represented Canada in international competitions and had a successful career spanning over a decade.
While the name Jamaal has Arab roots, it has gained popularity worldwide and is used across various cultures and communities. Its meaning and historical significance make it a name with a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jamaal over time
The chart below shows babies named Jamaal 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 Jamaal, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jamaal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jamaal 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 | #3124 | 37 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2158 | 101 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1030 | 210 | 10 |
| 1990s | #767 | 84 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Jamaal
-
Jamaal Lascelles
association football player
English association football player (born 1993)
1993-
Related
Names similar to Jamaal
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jamaal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jamaal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Jamaal was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Jamaal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 30 babies registered as Jamaal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jamaal?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
How many people are called Jamaal in the UK?
A total of 432 babies have been registered as Jamaal across the 29 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.