UK boy's name
Najib
An Arabic masculine name meaning noble, generous or distinguished.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Najib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Najib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 14 births.
This profile covers 131 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1997 to 2020. 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 130 living people in the UK are called Najib. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Najib ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 14 boys were registered as Najib.
- • About 130 living people in the UK are estimated to have Najib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
14 births
Estimated living
130
2026
Meaning
What does Najib mean?
The name Najib has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "najab," which means "noble" or "distinguished." This name has been used in the Arab world and Islamic cultures for centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Najib dates back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. It appeared in various historical texts and records from that era, often referring to prominent figures or scholars.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Najib was Najib al-Din al-Suharawardi, a renowned Sufi mystic and philosopher who lived in the 12th century (1097-1168). His writings and teachings had a significant impact on the development of Islamic mysticism.
Another historical figure with the name Najib was Najib ad-Din Yusuf, a Persian poet and scholar from the 13th century (1201-1292). He is known for his contributions to Persian literature and his poetic works, which were widely appreciated during his time.
In the 14th century, Najib al-Din Mahmud al-Balkhi was a prominent Persian physician and scholar. He wrote extensively on medicine and made significant contributions to the field of pharmacology.
Moving forward to the 16th century, Najib al-Din Ali ibn Husayn al-Ghazzali, also known as Najib al-Din al-Ghazzali, was a prominent Islamic scholar and philosopher from Persia. He was influential in the field of Islamic theology and authored several works on various subjects.
In more recent history, Najib Razak (born in 1953) was the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, serving from 2009 to 2018. He is a prominent political figure and has played a significant role in Malaysian politics.
The name Najib has continued to be popular in various Arab and Islamic cultures, with many individuals bearing this name throughout history. It carries connotations of nobility, distinction, and prestige, making it a respected and esteemed name in these regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Najib over time
The chart below shows babies named Najib registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Najib, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Najib by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Najib 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3855 | 41 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2263 | 75 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2394 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Najib
- 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
Najib: questions and answers
How popular is the name Najib in the UK right now?
In 2020, Najib was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Najib most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 14 babies registered as Najib in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Najib?
An Arabic masculine name meaning noble, generous or distinguished.
How many people are called Najib in the UK?
A total of 131 babies have been registered as Najib 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.