UK boy's name
Mourad
A masculine Arabic name meaning "wished for" or "desired".
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.
Mourad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mourad 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 2019, with 5 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Mourad. 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
- • Mourad ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 5 boys were registered as Mourad.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mourad 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
2019
5 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Mourad mean?
The name Mourad has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "murad," which means "desired" or "desired one." The name gained popularity in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in areas with a strong Islamic influence.
According to historical records, the name Mourad can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the early years of Islamic civilization. It is believed to have been used by Arab tribes and communities in the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mourad can be found in the "Kitab al-Aghani," an important anthology of Arabic poetry and songs compiled in the 9th century AD. The work features a poem dedicated to a man named Mourad, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mourad. One of the most famous was Mourad IV, an Ottoman Sultan who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640. He was known for his military campaigns and for expanding the empire's territories.
Another prominent figure was Mourad Bey, an 18th-century Mamluk leader in Egypt who played a significant role in the power struggles and conflicts of his time. He was born in 1750 and died in 1801.
In the realm of literature, Mourad Bourboune was a renowned Algerian writer and poet who lived from 1932 to 2018. His works explored themes of identity, resistance, and the struggle for independence in Algeria.
Mourad Kahlouche, born in 1971, is a contemporary Algerian writer and filmmaker known for his works that shed light on social and political issues in Algeria and the wider Arab world.
Mourad Papazian, an Armenian-Iranian artist and painter, lived from 1888 to 1957. His artwork, which often depicted scenes from everyday life in Iran, is celebrated for its vibrant colors and intricate details.
It is important to note that while the name Mourad has deep roots in Arab and Islamic cultures, it has also gained popularity in other regions and communities around the world, transcending its cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mourad over time
The chart below shows babies named Mourad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Mourad, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mourad by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mourad 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 | #4525 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3973 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #2636 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mourad
- 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
Mourad: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mourad in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mourad was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mourad most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 5 babies registered as Mourad in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mourad?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "wished for" or "desired".
How many people are called Mourad in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Mourad across the 11 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.