NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nabeela

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "noble" or "generous".

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.

Nabeela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nabeela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 21 births.

This profile covers 190 England and Wales registrations across 26 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 189 living people in the UK are called Nabeela. 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

  • Nabeela ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 21 girls were registered as Nabeela.
  • About 189 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nabeela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

1996

21 births

Estimated living

189

2026

Meaning

What does Nabeela mean?

The name Nabeela is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "nabl," which means "noble" or "distinguished." It is a feminine name that has been used for centuries in various parts of the Arab world and the Islamic world.

In ancient Arabic literature, the name Nabeela is often associated with beauty, grace, and elegance. It is believed to have been mentioned in some pre-Islamic poetry and writings, although specific references are difficult to trace due to the scarcity of surviving records from that period.

The earliest recorded use of the name Nabeela can be found in historical records from the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. One notable figure bearing this name was Nabeela bint Al-Harith, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the early Muslim women scholars.

Throughout history, several influential women have carried the name Nabeela. In the 10th century, Nabeela bint Al-Mundhir was a renowned poet and scholar from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). Her poetic works and contributions to literature have been celebrated by historians and literary critics.

In the 12th century, Nabeela Al-Shahrazuri was a prominent female scholar and jurist from Baghdad. She was known for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the intellectual discourse of her time.

Nabeela Naqvi, born in 1963, is a contemporary Pakistani author and playwright. Her works, including novels and plays, have garnered critical acclaim and have been widely recognized for their exploration of social and cultural themes.

Nabeela Al-Mulla, born in 1970, is a Kuwaiti artist and sculptor. Her sculptures and installations have been exhibited internationally, and she is renowned for her exploration of themes related to identity, culture, and the human experience.

It is worth noting that while the name Nabeela has its origins in Arabic, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures and communities around the world, particularly those with historical ties to the Arab or Islamic world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nabeela over time

The chart below shows babies named Nabeela 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 Nabeela, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nabeela
05111621199620102024

Decades

Nabeela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nabeela 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 #4603 18 4
2010s #4334 40 8
2000s #2969 67 10
1990s #1197 65 4

Related

Names similar to Nabeela

FAQ

Nabeela: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Nabeela was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Nabeela most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 21 babies registered as Nabeela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nabeela?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "noble" or "generous".

How many people are called Nabeela in the UK?

A total of 190 babies have been registered as Nabeela across the 26 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.