UK boy's name
Nadeem
An Arabic name meaning "generous" or "gifted".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nadeem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nadeem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 37 births.
This profile covers 311 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 11% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 353 living people in the UK are called Nadeem. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nadeem ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 37 boys were registered as Nadeem.
- • Nadeem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #380 in 1992.
- • About 353 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nadeem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
37 births
Estimated living
353
2026
Meaning
What does Nadeem mean?
The name Nadeem is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "nadama," which means "to regret" or "to feel remorse." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula, during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE.
The name Nadeem carries a sense of repentance and self-reflection, as it signifies someone who feels remorse or regret for their past actions and seeks to make amends. It is often associated with individuals who have undergone a spiritual or personal transformation.
While the name Nadeem is not directly referenced in religious scriptures or ancient texts, it has been used throughout the Islamic world for centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and scholar, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273 CE).
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nadeem. One of the most famous was Nadeem Khan (1711-1782), a renowned Urdu poet and courtier in the Mughal Empire, who was renowned for his ghazals and contributions to Urdu literature. Another prominent figure was Nadeem Malik (1944-2021), a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the realm of politics, Nadeem Babar (born 1964) is a prominent Pakistani politician and former federal minister, while Nadeem Aslam (born 1966) is a British-Pakistani novelist and writer, known for works such as "Maps for Lost Lovers" and "The Blind Man's Garden."
Nadeem Elyas (born 1957) is a renowned Egyptian actor and comedian who has starred in numerous films and television shows, earning him widespread popularity across the Arab world.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Nadeem throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and cultural significance across various regions and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nadeem over time
The chart below shows babies named Nadeem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nadeem, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 37 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nadeem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nadeem 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 | #3054 | 20 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3505 | 51 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1542 | 136 | 10 |
| 1990s | #685 | 104 | 4 |
Geography
Where Nadeem is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nadeem. 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.
Nadeem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #380 in 1992.
Across the UK
Nadeem in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#380 in 1992
12 years of NRS records, 47 total registered
Related
Names similar to Nadeem
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Nadeem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nadeem in the UK right now?
In 2023, Nadeem was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nadeem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 37 babies registered as Nadeem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nadeem?
An Arabic name meaning "generous" or "gifted".
How many people are called Nadeem in the UK?
A total of 311 babies have been registered as Nadeem across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 47 more in Scotland.
Where is Nadeem most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Nadeem ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #380 in 1992. 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.