UK boy's name
Nadim
A masculine Arabic name meaning "companion", "friend", or "sociable".
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.
Nadim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nadim 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 2003, with 16 births.
This profile covers 179 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 177 living people in the UK are called Nadim. 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
- • Nadim ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 16 boys were registered as Nadim.
- • About 177 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nadim 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
2003
16 births
Estimated living
177
2026
Meaning
What does Nadim mean?
The name Nadim is an Arabic masculine given name that has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "nadim," which means "companion" or "intimate friend." This name first appeared in the Middle East during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE.
The name Nadim gained popularity among Arab communities and was often given to boys as a way to express the wish for them to be good companions and loyal friends throughout their lives. It was particularly common among the elite and educated classes in the medieval Islamic world.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nadim is Abu'l-Faraj al-Isfahani, a renowned Arab writer, poet, and scholar who lived from 897 to 967 CE. He is known for his influential work, "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), which is a comprehensive collection of Arabic poetry and biographical accounts of poets.
Another notable figure with the name Nadim is Nadim al-Mallah, a Syrian poet and writer who lived from 1892 to 1957. He was a prominent figure in the Arab literary renaissance (Nahda) and is celebrated for his contributions to modern Arabic poetry and his advocacy for women's rights.
In Persian literature, one of the most famous individuals with the name Nadim is Mirza Muhammad Rafi' Sauda, also known as Sauda or Nadim. He was a prominent Urdu poet who lived from 1713 to 1781 and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the Urdu ghazal, a form of amatory poetry.
In the Ottoman Empire, Nadim was the pen name of Ahmed Nedim Efendi, a renowned Ottoman poet and writer who lived from 1681 to 1730. He was a prominent figure in the Ottoman literary scene and is celebrated for his contributions to Turkish poetry and his innovative use of language.
Another notable figure with the name Nadim is Nadim Guzman, a Filipino writer and activist who lived from 1917 to 2004. He was a prominent figure in the Filipino labor movement and is known for his works on social justice and workers' rights.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Nadim. While its origins can be traced back to the Arabic language and the early Islamic era, the name has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, becoming a part of various literary and cultural traditions across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nadim over time
The chart below shows babies named Nadim 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 Nadim, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nadim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nadim 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 | #3814 | 13 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3073 | 36 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2138 | 92 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1338 | 38 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Nadim
- 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
Nadim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nadim in the UK right now?
In 2023, Nadim was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nadim most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 16 babies registered as Nadim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nadim?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "companion", "friend", or "sociable".
How many people are called Nadim in the UK?
A total of 179 babies have been registered as Nadim across the 23 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.