UK girl's name
Nabilah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "noble" or "high-born".
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.
Nabilah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nabilah 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 2002, with 22 births.
This profile covers 197 England and Wales registrations across 22 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 196 living people in the UK are called Nabilah. 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
- • Nabilah ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 22 girls were registered as Nabilah.
- • About 196 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nabilah 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
2002
22 births
Estimated living
196
2026
Meaning
What does Nabilah mean?
The name Nabilah originates from the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Arabic word "nabeel," which means noble, honorable, or distinguished.
In its earliest usage, Nabilah was primarily given to girls born into influential or aristocratic families, signifying their noble lineage and status. The name carried a connotation of high social standing and was associated with traits such as integrity, dignity, and grace.
While there are no direct historical references to the name Nabilah in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that the name was inspired by the Islamic concept of nobility, which emphasizes virtuous character and righteous conduct.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nabilah dates back to the 9th century CE. Nabilah bint Al-Hasan Al-Amin was a renowned Arabian poet and scholar who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate. She was celebrated for her eloquence and contribution to Arabic literature.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nabilah. In the 11th century, Nabilah Al-Khatun was a prominent princess from the Seljuk Empire, known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the court.
During the 13th century, Nabilah Al-Haqqah was a revered Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher whose teachings and poetry had a significant impact on Islamic mysticism.
In the 16th century, Nabilah Al-Nabulusi was a Palestinian scholar and poet who gained recognition for her works on Islamic jurisprudence and her mastery of Arabic language and literature.
In the 19th century, Nabilah Al-Haidari was a prominent Syrian educator and women's rights activist who advocated for girls' education and fought against gender discrimination.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Nabilah throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, spirituality, scholarship, and social reform.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nabilah over time
The chart below shows babies named Nabilah 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 Nabilah, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 22 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nabilah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nabilah 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 | #4594 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4339 | 31 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2126 | 114 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1607 | 43 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Nabilah
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nabilah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nabilah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nabilah was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Nabilah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 22 babies registered as Nabilah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nabilah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "noble" or "high-born".
How many people are called Nabilah in the UK?
A total of 197 babies have been registered as Nabilah across the 22 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.