UK boy's name
Morad
Of Arabic origin, meaning cherished, desired, or longed for.
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.
Morad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Morad 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 1998, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Morad. 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
- • Morad ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 boys were registered as Morad.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Morad 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
1998
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Morad mean?
The name Morad has its origins in Arabic culture and language. It is derived from the Arabic word "murad," which means "desired" or "wished for." The name is believed to have been in use as early as the 7th century AD, during the Islamic Golden Age.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morad can be found in the writings of Ibn Ishaq, a renowned Islamic scholar and biographer from the 8th century AD. He mentions a companion of the Prophet Muhammad named Morad ibn Jabal.
In the 10th century, a famous Arab poet and philosopher named Morad al-Kabir gained recognition for his works on love, spirituality, and the human condition. He was born in Baghdad in 923 AD and is considered one of the greatest poets of the Abbasid era.
During the 12th century, a prominent Sufi mystic and scholar named Morad al-Din was known for his teachings on the spiritual path and his contributions to Islamic philosophy. He was born in Konya, present-day Turkey, in 1165 AD.
In the 14th century, a Persian prince and military leader named Morad I ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1362 to 1389 AD. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Ottoman territories and is remembered for his victories against the Serbs and Bulgarians.
Another notable figure with the name Morad was Morad Bey, an 18th-century Ottoman ruler of Egypt. He governed from 1786 to 1791 and is credited with implementing administrative and economic reforms that helped stabilize the region during his reign.
While the name Morad has its roots in Arabic and Islamic culture, it has been adopted and used across various regions and ethnicities over the centuries. Its meaning of "desired" or "wished for" has likely contributed to its enduring appeal and widespread use.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Morad over time
The chart below shows babies named Morad 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 Morad, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Morad by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Morad 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 | #4954 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2419 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Morad
- 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
Morad: questions and answers
How popular is the name Morad in the UK right now?
In 2024, Morad was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Morad most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Morad in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Morad?
Of Arabic origin, meaning cherished, desired, or longed for.
How many people are called Morad in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Morad across the 4 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.