NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kadir

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "powerful", "mighty" or "capable".

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.

Kadir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kadir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 11 births.

This profile covers 146 England and Wales registrations across 22 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 145 living people in the UK are called Kadir. 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

  • Kadir ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 11 boys were registered as Kadir.
  • About 145 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kadir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

11 births

Estimated living

145

2026

Meaning

What does Kadir mean?

The name Kadir has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, and it can be traced back to the early days of Islam. The name is derived from the Arabic word "qadir," which means "powerful" or "able." It is believed to have been used as a name since the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the early Islamic caliphates.

In Islamic tradition, one of the names of God is Al-Qadir, which means "The All-Powerful" or "The Omnipotent." This name is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and it is considered a strong and meaningful name for Muslims.

The earliest recorded example of the name Kadir can be found in the historical records of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, which ruled over large parts of the Middle East and North Africa between the 7th and 13th centuries CE. During this time, several notable figures bore the name Kadir, including scholars, poets, and military leaders.

One of the most famous individuals with the name Kadir was Kadir Gilani, a renowned Sufi saint and founder of the Qadiri order of Sufism. He lived in Baghdad, Iraq, in the 12th century CE (1077-1166 CE) and was known for his teachings on spiritual purification and devotion to God.

Another notable figure was Kadir Khan, a Mughal military commander and governor of Kashmir during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century CE (1624-1689 CE). He played a significant role in the Mughal conquest of Kashmir and the expansion of the Mughal Empire in the region.

In the 19th century, Kadir Ali Bey (1834-1894 CE) was a Turkish writer, translator, and diplomat who served as the Ottoman ambassador to several European countries. He was instrumental in introducing Western literature and ideas to the Ottoman Empire and played a crucial role in the reform movements of the time.

In more recent history, Kadir Misiroğlu (1933-2019 CE) was a prominent Turkish writer, historian, and journalist who authored numerous books on Turkish history and culture. His works were widely read and influential in promoting a better understanding of Turkey's past.

Kadir Nurman (1905-1959 CE) was an Indonesian poet and author who played a significant role in the development of modern Indonesian literature. He was known for his poems that expressed the struggle for independence and the aspirations of the Indonesian people.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Kadir throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in various cultures and its association with strength, power, and religious significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kadir over time

The chart below shows babies named Kadir 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 Kadir, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kadir
036811199620102024

Decades

Kadir by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kadir 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 #4439 14 4
2010s #2466 58 7
2000s #2157 50 7
1990s #1820 24 4

Related

Names similar to Kadir

FAQ

Kadir: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Kadir was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kadir most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 11 babies registered as Kadir in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kadir?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "powerful", "mighty" or "capable".

How many people are called Kadir in the UK?

A total of 146 babies have been registered as Kadir across the 22 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.