UK name, mostly girls
Jihan
An Arabic feminine name meaning "a spiritual journey" or "striving for excellence".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 27 boys.
Jihan is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Jihan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 6 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2001 to 2023. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 33 living people in the UK are called Jihan. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jihan ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 6 girls were registered as Jihan.
- • Jihan is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jihan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 55.0% of Jihan registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
6 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Jihan
In England and Wales birth records, Jihan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 45.0% of registrations are for boys and 55.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Jihan registered for boys
- Ranked #2,443 in 2024
- 9 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (9 births)
Jihan registered for girls
- Ranked #5,687 in 2023
- 3 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2007 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Jihan mean?
The name Jihan is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "jihan," which means "universe" or "world." The name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and culture.
In Arabic literature, the name Jihan is mentioned in several poems and stories, often used to describe a beautiful and accomplished woman. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be found in the 11th-century poetry of the Persian poet and scholar, Abu'l-Ala Al-Ma'arri.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Jihan. One of the most famous was Jihan Antar, a Syrian singer and actress who lived from 1942 to 2018. She was renowned for her contributions to Arabic music and her roles in numerous films and television shows.
Another prominent figure was Jihan Sadat, the wife of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Born in 1933, she was actively involved in various social and humanitarian causes, advocating for women's rights and promoting peace in the Middle East.
In the world of literature, Jihan al-Sadat was an Egyptian writer and feminist activist who lived from 1935 to 2010. She wrote several books and essays on women's issues and was a vocal advocate for gender equality in the Arab world.
Jihan Sultan, an Egyptian-American fashion designer born in 1976, is also known for her successful clothing line, which combines traditional Arabic styles with modern elements.
Lastly, Jihan Noureddin was a Lebanese journalist and human rights activist who lived from 1958 to 2009. She was a prominent voice for democracy and freedom of expression in the Middle East and worked tirelessly to promote human rights and social justice.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Jihan, a name that carries a rich cultural heritage and symbolizes the vastness of the universe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jihan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jihan in England and Wales, from 2001 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 Jihan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jihan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jihan 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 | #5161 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5761 | 12 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3717 | 14 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Jihan
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Jihan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jihan in the UK right now?
In 2023, Jihan was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jihan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 6 babies registered as Jihan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jihan?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "a spiritual journey" or "striving for excellence".
How many people are called Jihan in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Jihan across the 9 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.