NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nahima

An Arabic name meaning "the desire" or "the goal".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nahima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nahima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4564, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 11 births.

This profile covers 97 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 96 living people in the UK are called Nahima. 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 2010 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nahima ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 11 girls were registered as Nahima.
  • About 96 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nahima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4564

2009

Births in 2009

4

Latest year

Peak year

1999

11 births

Estimated living

96

2026

Meaning

What does Nahima mean?

The name Nahima is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "nahma," which means "grace" or "blessing." It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, where Arabic culture and language were widely prevalent.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Nahima can be traced back to ancient Arabic manuscripts and historical records from the 8th and 9th centuries. It was a relatively uncommon name during this time, primarily used within Arabic-speaking communities in regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and parts of North Africa.

One of the earliest known historical figures bearing the name Nahima was a renowned scholar and poet from Baghdad, who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century. Her works were highly regarded and contributed significantly to the development of Arabic literature during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 11th century, a prominent figure named Nahima Al-Andalusia gained recognition as a skilled physician and philosopher in the Iberian Peninsula, where Arabic culture had a significant influence. Her writings on medicine and natural sciences were widely studied and contributed to the advancement of knowledge during that era.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign in the 16th century, a notable figure known as Nahima Khanum was a respected courtier and advisor to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. She was renowned for her wisdom, diplomacy, and influential role in shaping policies within the Ottoman court.

In more recent history, Nahima Khazindar was a celebrated Syrian artist and sculptor born in 1923. Her works, which often depicted scenes from everyday life in the Middle East, gained widespread recognition and have been exhibited in various galleries and museums around the world.

Another notable figure was Nahima Kern, a renowned French actress and singer of Algerian descent, born in 1938. She achieved great success in the French entertainment industry, starring in numerous films and theatrical productions throughout her career.

While the name Nahima is not as common today as it once was, it continues to hold significance within Arabic-speaking communities, serving as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and history associated with this unique and graceful name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nahima over time

The chart below shows babies named Nahima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nahima, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2009, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nahima
036811199620022009

Decades

Nahima by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nahima 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
2000s #2746 68 9
1990s #2225 29 4

Related

Names similar to Nahima

FAQ

Nahima: questions and answers

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

In 2009, Nahima was ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Nahima most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 11 babies registered as Nahima in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nahima?

An Arabic name meaning "the desire" or "the goal".

How many people are called Nahima in the UK?

A total of 97 babies have been registered as Nahima across the 13 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.