NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Medina

An Arabic name meaning "city" or "fortified town".

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.

Medina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Medina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #795, with 47 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 47 births.

This profile covers 549 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.

Medina is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 546 living people in the UK are called Medina. 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

  • Medina ranked #795 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 47 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 47 girls were registered as Medina.
  • About 546 living people in the UK are estimated to have Medina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#795

2024

Births in 2024

47

Latest year

Peak year

2024

47 births

Estimated living

546

2026

Meaning

What does Medina mean?

The name Medina has its roots in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "madinah," which means "city" or "town." It is a name deeply rooted in Islamic culture and history, as it is closely associated with the city of Medina in modern-day Saudi Arabia.

The city of Medina holds immense significance in Islamic tradition as it was the destination of Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca in 622 CE, an event known as the Hijrah. This migration marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the establishment of the first Muslim community in Medina, which became the center of the Islamic faith during the early years of its spread.

Medina is mentioned numerous times in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and is referred to as "Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah," which translates to "The Radiant City." The city's name is also mentioned in various Islamic texts and historical records, further solidifying its importance in the Islamic faith.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Medina can be found in the biography of Prophet Muhammad, as it was the name given to the city where he established the first Islamic community after his migration from Mecca.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Medina. One of the most famous is Medina Munawwara, also known as Fatima bint Muhammad (605-632 CE), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah. She is revered as one of the most important figures in Islamic history and is considered a role model for Muslim women.

Another notable figure is Medina Sidonia (1442-1492), a Spanish noblewoman who played a significant role in the Spanish Reconquista, the long-lasting military campaign that led to the end of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

In the field of literature, Medina Mayrig Gōhar (1914-2018) was an Armenian writer and poet who made significant contributions to the preservation of Armenian culture and language. Her works often explored themes of identity, tradition, and the Armenian diaspora experience.

Medina Zalepugo (1834-1903) was a prominent Georgian writer and feminist who advocated for women's rights and education in the 19th century. Her works addressed social issues and the need for reform, and she is considered a pioneer of the Georgian feminist movement.

Lastly, Medina Mejía (1899-1999) was a renowned Ecuadorian poet and writer whose work focused on themes of nature, indigenous culture, and the struggles of the working class. She is considered one of the most influential literary figures in Ecuador and played a significant role in the country's cultural and literary renaissance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Medina over time

The chart below shows babies named Medina 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 Medina, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 47 births in 2024, compared with 47 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Medina
012243547199620102024

Decades

Medina by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Medina 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 #962 184 5
2010s #1454 225 10
2000s #2073 112 10
1990s #2244 28 4

Related

Names similar to Medina

FAQ

Medina: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Medina was ranked #795 for girls in England and Wales, with 47 births registered.

When was Medina most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 47 babies registered as Medina in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Medina?

An Arabic name meaning "city" or "fortified town".

How many people are called Medina in the UK?

A total of 549 babies have been registered as Medina 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.