NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Murad

An Arabic name meaning "desired" or "cherished".

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.

Murad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Murad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1675, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 16 births.

This profile covers 245 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 94% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 246 living people in the UK are called Murad. 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

  • Murad ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 16 boys were registered as Murad.
  • Murad ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #711 in 2020.
  • About 246 living people in the UK are estimated to have Murad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1675

2024

Births in 2024

15

Latest year

Peak year

2022

16 births

Estimated living

246

2026

Meaning

What does Murad mean?

Murad is a male given name derived from the Arabic word "murid," meaning "one who desires or aspires." Its origins can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when the Islamic faith spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

The name Murad gained popularity during the Ottoman Empire, particularly among the ruling elite and military class. One of the most notable historical figures bearing this name was Murad I, the Ottoman Sultan who reigned from 1362 to 1389. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into the Balkans and is credited with establishing the Janissary corps, an elite military force.

Another prominent figure with the name Murad was Murad II, the Ottoman Sultan who ruled from 1421 to 1451. During his reign, he consolidated the Ottoman Empire's power and engaged in successful military campaigns against the Hungarians and the Venetians.

The name Murad also appears in Persian literature and history. Murad Khani, a 17th-century Kurdish prince and poet, is renowned for his contributions to Kurdish literature and his promotion of Kurdish culture and language.

In India, the name Murad gained recognition through the Mughal Empire. Murad Baksh, the youngest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, was a prominent figure in the 17th century. Although he briefly ascended to the throne, his reign was short-lived due to conflicts with his brother Aurangzeb.

Moving forward in history, Murad V was the 35th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning for a brief period in 1876. Despite his short reign, he is remembered for his attempts to implement constitutional reforms and modernize the Ottoman Empire.

These are just a few examples of notable figures throughout history who bore the name Murad. The name has maintained its popularity across various cultures and regions, carrying a sense of aspiration and desire for those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Murad over time

The chart below shows babies named Murad 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 Murad, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Murad
0481216199620102024

Decades

Murad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Murad 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 #1789 68 5
2010s #2207 101 10
2000s #2275 53 8
1990s #2014 23 4

Geography

Where Murad is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Murad. 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.

Murad ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #711 in 2020.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Murad in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#711 in 2020

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Murad

  • Murad Qureshi

    journalist

    British politician

    1965-

Related

Names similar to Murad

FAQ

Murad: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Murad was ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.

When was Murad most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 16 babies registered as Murad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Murad?

An Arabic name meaning "desired" or "cherished".

How many people are called Murad in the UK?

A total of 245 babies have been registered as Murad across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Murad most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Murad ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #711 in 2020. 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.