UK girl's name
Naeema
A feminine Arabic name meaning gracious, pleasant, or delightful.
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.
Naeema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naeema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 15 births.
This profile covers 212 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 211 living people in the UK are called Naeema. 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
- • Naeema ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 15 girls were registered as Naeema.
- • About 211 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naeema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
15 births
Estimated living
211
2026
Meaning
What does Naeema mean?
The name Naeema has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "na'eem," which means "blissful" or "delightful." The name is believed to have emerged during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century.
Naeema is often associated with the concept of paradise in Islamic teachings. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, mentions the word "na'eem" multiple times, referring to the blissful state of those who enter paradise. This connection has led to the name being associated with joy, contentment, and spiritual fulfillment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naeema can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. These scholars often mentioned individuals with the name Naeema in their writings, indicating its usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Naeema. One such individual was Naeema al-Ahdal (1143-1201), a renowned Yemeni poet and scholar who was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature. Another was Naeema bint Al-Walid (582-640), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the earliest Muslim women to embrace Islam.
In the 12th century, Naeema al-Maraghi (1165-1236) was a prominent female scholar and jurist from Egypt. She was highly respected for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the study of Hadith (the recorded sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad).
During the Ottoman Empire, Naeema Sultan (1638-1688) was a prominent figure. She was the daughter of Sultan Ibrahim I and played an influential role in the imperial court, known for her political acumen and patronage of the arts and architecture.
More recently, Naeema Thas (1920-2007) was a Sri Lankan writer, activist, and politician who was deeply involved in the struggle for women's rights and social justice. She was a pioneering figure in Sri Lankan literature and served as a member of parliament for several years.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Naeema, highlighting its rich cultural and historical significance within the Arabic and Islamic traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naeema over time
The chart below shows babies named Naeema registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Naeema, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naeema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naeema 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 | #3743 | 64 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1999 | 106 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1655 | 42 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Naeema
- 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
Naeema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naeema in the UK right now?
In 2018, Naeema was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Naeema most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 15 babies registered as Naeema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naeema?
A feminine Arabic name meaning gracious, pleasant, or delightful.
How many people are called Naeema in the UK?
A total of 212 babies have been registered as Naeema 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.