NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Naheem

An Arabic name meaning "dream" or "sweet dream".

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.

Naheem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Naheem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 7 births.

This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 10 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Naheem. 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

  • Naheem ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 7 boys were registered as Naheem.
  • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naheem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

7 births

Estimated living

36

2026

Meaning

What does Naheem mean?

The given name Naheem is believed to have originated from the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "naim," which means "pleasant" or "delightful." The name has been in use for centuries within Arabic-speaking communities and regions where Islamic culture has had a significant influence.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Naheem can be found in ancient Islamic texts and manuscripts dating back to the 8th century. During this time, the name was often given to male children as a way to express the hope for a pleasant and delightful life for the child.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Naheem. One of the earliest recorded examples is Naheem ibn Zayd al-Qurashi, a 9th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Medina. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and contributed significantly to the development of Islamic legal thought.

In the 11th century, Naheem al-Farabi was a renowned philosopher, scientist, and mathematician from Central Asia. He made significant contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, and political philosophy, and his works had a lasting impact on the intellectual traditions of the Islamic world.

Another prominent figure was Naheem al-Ghazali, a 12th-century Persian philosopher, theologian, and mystic. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Islamic thought and played a crucial role in reconciling Islamic theology with Greek philosophy.

During the 14th century, Naheem al-Muqaddasi was a renowned Islamic geographer and traveler. His work, "The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions," is considered one of the most important works on medieval Islamic geography and provides valuable insights into the cultural and social landscape of the time.

In the 16th century, Naheem al-Jazari was a renowned engineer and inventor from present-day Turkey. He is best known for his significant contributions to the field of mechanical engineering, particularly his innovative designs for water clocks and other intricate mechanical devices.

These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have borne the name Naheem throughout history, each contributing significantly to their respective fields and leaving a lasting legacy within the cultural and intellectual traditions of the Islamic world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Naheem over time

The chart below shows babies named Naheem 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 Naheem, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Naheem
02457199620102024

Decades

Naheem by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naheem 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 #5055 6 2
2010s #4685 3 1
2000s #3418 14 4
1990s #2478 13 3

Related

Names similar to Naheem

FAQ

Naheem: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Naheem was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Naheem most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 7 babies registered as Naheem in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Naheem?

An Arabic name meaning "dream" or "sweet dream".

How many people are called Naheem in the UK?

A total of 36 babies have been registered as Naheem across the 10 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.