UK boy's name
Mahmood
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "praiseworthy" or "praised one".
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.
Mahmood is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahmood popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 15 births.
This profile covers 241 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 239 living people in the UK are called Mahmood. 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
- • Mahmood ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 15 boys were registered as Mahmood.
- • About 239 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahmood as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2009
15 births
Estimated living
239
2026
Meaning
What does Mahmood mean?
The name Mahmood originates from the Arabic language and culture, with its roots dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "mahmud," which means "praiseworthy" or "commendable." This name carries a strong religious and cultural significance in the Islamic tradition.
In the Islamic faith, Mahmood is believed to be one of the 99 names of Allah (God), representing the attribute of being worthy of praise and gratitude. The name gained popularity during the early days of Islam, as it was associated with the virtues of piety, righteousness, and devotion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahmood can be found in the Qur'an, the sacred text of Islam. It is mentioned in Surah Al-Araf (7:143), where it is used to describe Prophet Moses as being praised and commended by Allah.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mahmood. One of the most famous was Mahmood of Ghazni (971-1030 CE), a prominent Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire who ruled parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. He is renowned for his military conquests and patronage of arts and literature.
Another prominent figure was Mahmood Ghaznavi (998-1030 CE), a Persian poet and scholar who served as a court poet under Sultan Mahmood of Ghazni. His poetic works, including the epic "Shahnama," have been widely celebrated and have had a significant influence on Persian literature.
In the 12th century, Mahmood Kashgari (1005-1102 CE) was a celebrated Turkic scholar and lexicographer who authored the first comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages, known as the "Divan Lughat al-Turk."
Another notable figure was Mahmood Shams al-Din Isfahani (1268-1325 CE), a renowned Persian calligrapher and painter who made significant contributions to the art of calligraphy and miniature painting during the Ilkhanid period.
In more recent history, Mahmood Ahmadinejad (born in 1956) served as the sixth President of Iran from 2005 to 2013, gaining international recognition for his controversial statements and policies during his tenure.
The name Mahmood continues to be popular among Muslim communities around the world, particularly in regions with strong Arabic and Islamic cultural influences. It carries a deep spiritual and historical significance, representing the virtues of praise, commendation, and devotion.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mahmood over time
The chart below shows babies named Mahmood 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 Mahmood, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahmood by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahmood 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 | #3120 | 25 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2466 | 83 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1693 | 101 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1506 | 32 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mahmood
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mahmood: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mahmood in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mahmood was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Mahmood most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 15 babies registered as Mahmood in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mahmood?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "praiseworthy" or "praised one".
How many people are called Mahmood in the UK?
A total of 241 babies have been registered as Mahmood 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.