NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nabihah

A feminine Arabic name meaning "noble" or "highly regarded".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nabihah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nabihah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3518, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 16 births.

This profile covers 161 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1997 to 2018. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 160 living people in the UK are called Nabihah. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nabihah ranked #3518 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 16 girls were registered as Nabihah.
  • About 160 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nabihah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3518

2018

Births in 2018

6

Latest year

Peak year

2002

16 births

Estimated living

160

2026

Meaning

What does Nabihah mean?

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

The earliest recorded use of the name Nabihah can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is believed that one of the companions of the prophet, a woman named Nabihah bint Al-Walid, was among the first to bear this name.

In Islamic literature and historical records, Nabihah is mentioned as the name of several notable women throughout the centuries. One such figure was Nabihah bint Al-Hasan, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in the 9th century AD. She was known for her expertise in Arabic literature and her contributions to the preservation of the Arabic language.

Another historical figure named Nabihah was Nabihah bint Al-Husayn, a prominent Muslim woman from the 10th century AD. She was highly respected for her piety and knowledge of Islamic teachings, and is said to have played a significant role in the education of women in her community.

Moving forward in time, Nabihah al-Husayni was a Syrian writer and activist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was a pioneer in the fight for women's rights and education in the Arab world, and her writings and speeches had a profound impact on the feminist movement in the region.

In more recent times, Nabihah Iqbal is a British-Pakistani musician and producer who has gained recognition for her unique blend of electronic and South Asian music. Born in 1990, she has released several critically acclaimed albums and has performed at various music festivals around the world.

While the name Nabihah has its roots in the Arabic language, it has gained popularity across various cultures and communities over the centuries. Its enduring presence throughout history is a testament to its timeless beauty and the significance it holds for those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nabihah over time

The chart below shows babies named Nabihah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nabihah, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2018, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nabihah
0481216199720072018

Decades

Nabihah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nabihah 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
2010s #4566 33 7
2000s #2057 103 10
1990s #1961 25 3

Related

Names similar to Nabihah

FAQ

Nabihah: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Nabihah was ranked #3518 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Nabihah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 16 babies registered as Nabihah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nabihah?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "noble" or "highly regarded".

How many people are called Nabihah in the UK?

A total of 161 babies have been registered as Nabihah across the 20 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.