UK name, mostly girls
Misbah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "lamp" or "lantern".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Misbah is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Misbah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 42 births.
This profile covers 498 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 10% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 498 living people in the UK are called Misbah. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Misbah ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 42 girls were registered as Misbah.
- • Misbah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #629 in 1994.
- • About 498 living people in the UK are estimated to have Misbah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.4% of Misbah registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
42 births
Estimated living
498
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Misbah
In England and Wales birth records, Misbah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 1.6% of registrations are for boys and 98.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Misbah registered for boys
- Ranked #4,527 in 2009
- 3 boys registered in 2009
- Peak: 2007 (5 births)
Misbah registered for girls
- Ranked #4,709 in 2023
- 4 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2007 (42 births)
Meaning
What does Misbah mean?
The name Misbah originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "miṣbāḥ," which means "lamp" or "light." The name is believed to have been in use since the early centuries of Islam, as it is found in some of the earliest Islamic texts and historical records.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Misbah can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the word "miṣbāḥ" is used to symbolize guidance, knowledge, and enlightenment. This association with light and knowledge likely contributed to the name's popularity among Muslims.
In the 9th century, there was a famous Islamic scholar and mathematician named Misbah al-Din al-Muqaddasi (d. 990). He was known for his contributions to the field of mathematics and his extensive travels throughout the Islamic world, documenting his observations in his writings.
Another notable figure with the name Misbah was Misbah al-Din al-Shahrazuri (d. 1349), a Persian philosopher and theologian who lived during the 14th century. He was known for his work in the field of Islamic philosophy and his commentaries on various philosophical and theological texts.
In the 16th century, there was a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Misbah al-Din Wali Ullah (1503-1580). He was born in present-day Pakistan and is renowned for his spiritual teachings and poetic works, which have had a significant influence on the Sufi tradition in South Asia.
Another prominent figure with the name Misbah was Misbah al-Din Mustafa (1520-1585), also known as Misbah Yahya. He was a renowned Ottoman scholar, jurist, and poet who served as the Shaykhulislam (highest religious authority) of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Murad III.
Throughout history, the name Misbah has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including religion, philosophy, mathematics, and literature. Its connection to the concept of light and knowledge has likely contributed to its enduring popularity across various cultures and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Misbah over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Misbah in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Misbah, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 42 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Misbah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Misbah 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 | #5363 | 13 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3653 | 59 | 8 |
| 2000s | #989 | 297 | 10 |
| 1990s | #726 | 129 | 4 |
Geography
Where Misbah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Misbah. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Misbah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #629 in 1994.
Across the UK
Misbah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#629 in 1994
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Misbah
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Misbah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Misbah in the UK right now?
In 2023, Misbah was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Misbah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 42 babies registered as Misbah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Misbah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "lamp" or "lantern".
How many people are called Misbah in the UK?
A total of 498 babies have been registered as Misbah across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Misbah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Misbah ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #629 in 1994. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.