UK boy's name
Minhaj
A masculine name derived from Arabic, meaning "path" or "way".
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.
Minhaj is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Minhaj 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 1997, with 9 births.
This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 19 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 90 living people in the UK are called Minhaj. 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
- • Minhaj ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 9 boys were registered as Minhaj.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Minhaj 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
1997
9 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Meaning
What does Minhaj mean?
The name Minhaj has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the medieval era. The word "minhaj" itself means "path" or "way" in Arabic, and it is derived from the root word "nahj," which means "to follow a path."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Minhaj can be found in the works of the renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher Al-Ghazali, who lived from 1058 to 1111 CE. In his influential work, "Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din" (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), Al-Ghazali referred to the concept of "minhaj" as the path to spiritual enlightenment and self-knowledge.
The name Minhaj gained further prominence in the 13th century with the birth of the renowned Islamic scholar and jurist, Minhaj al-Din al-Juwayni (1226-1283 CE). Al-Juwayni was a prominent figure in the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence and served as the chief judge of Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate.
Another notable figure bearing the name Minhaj was the Persian historian and poet Minhaj al-Siraj Juzjani (1193-1292 CE). Juzjani is best known for his historical work, "Tabaqat-i Nasiri," which provides a detailed account of the Ghurids and the early Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent.
In the 14th century, the name Minhaj was associated with the Islamic scholar and jurist Minhaj al-Din al-Nawawi (1233-1277 CE). Al-Nawawi was a renowned expert in the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence and authored numerous works, including the influential collection of hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) titled "Al-Minhaj."
Moving to more recent times, one of the most prominent figures with the name Minhaj was the Indian Islamic scholar and philosopher Minhaj al-Din Sirhindi (1564-1624 CE). Sirhindi was a prominent figure in the Naqshbandi Sufi order and played a significant role in the revival of Islamic spirituality in South Asia.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who bore the name Minhaj, which has been associated with scholarship, spirituality, and the pursuit of knowledge across various Islamic cultures and traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Minhaj over time
The chart below shows babies named Minhaj 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 Minhaj, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Minhaj by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Minhaj 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 | #4555 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3967 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2813 | 44 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1909 | 24 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Minhaj
- 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
Minhaj: questions and answers
How popular is the name Minhaj in the UK right now?
In 2024, Minhaj was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Minhaj most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 9 babies registered as Minhaj in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Minhaj?
A masculine name derived from Arabic, meaning "path" or "way".
How many people are called Minhaj in the UK?
A total of 91 babies have been registered as Minhaj across the 19 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.