NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Mahmud

An Arabic masculine name meaning "praiseworthy" or "commendable".

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.

Mahmud is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahmud popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 10 births.

This profile covers 108 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1998 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 107 living people in the UK are called Mahmud. 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

  • Mahmud ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 10 boys were registered as Mahmud.
  • About 107 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahmud as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

10 births

Estimated living

107

2026

Meaning

What does Mahmud mean?

The name Mahmud is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "hamida" which means "to praise" or "to laud". It is a masculine given name that has been in use since ancient times in the Arab world and other regions influenced by Islamic culture.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mahmud dates back to the 7th century, when it was mentioned in the Quran, the sacred text of Islam. The name gained popularity after the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

In the 10th century, Mahmud of Ghazni, a Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, was one of the most notable historical figures to bear this name. He was born in 971 and reigned from 998 to 1030, conquering vast territories and patronizing various literary and cultural endeavors.

Another significant figure was Mahmud II, the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who ruled from 1808 to 1839. He was born in 1785 and is known for his efforts to modernize and reform the Ottoman state, including the abolition of the Janissary corps.

In the realm of literature, Mahmud Sami Ramazanoğlu, a Turkish poet and writer, was born in 1885 and made significant contributions to the literary scene of his time. His works explored themes of love, nature, and national identity.

Moving to the subcontinent, Mahmud Ghaznavi, a renowned 11th-century scholar and poet, was born in Ghazni (present-day Afghanistan) in 1010. His poetic works in Persian have left a lasting impact on the literary traditions of the region.

These are just a few examples of the numerous historical figures who have borne the name Mahmud, each leaving their mark on various fields, from governance and military conquests to literature and cultural enrichment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mahmud over time

The chart below shows babies named Mahmud registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Mahmud, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mahmud
035810199820112024

Decades

Mahmud by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahmud 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 #3731 24 5
2010s #3450 36 7
2000s #2878 38 7
1990s #2086 10 2

Related

Names similar to Mahmud

FAQ

Mahmud: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Mahmud was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Mahmud most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 10 babies registered as Mahmud in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mahmud?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "praiseworthy" or "commendable".

How many people are called Mahmud in the UK?

A total of 108 babies have been registered as Mahmud across the 21 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.