UK girl's name
Najma
A feminine Arabic name that means "star.".
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.
Najma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Najma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 49 births.
This profile covers 610 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 609 living people in the UK are called Najma. 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
- • Najma ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 49 girls were registered as Najma.
- • Najma ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #530 in 1982.
- • About 609 living people in the UK are estimated to have Najma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2004
49 births
Estimated living
609
2026
Meaning
What does Najma mean?
The name Najma traces its origins to the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "najm," which means "star" or "celestial body." The name is often associated with beauty, brightness, and celestial symbolism.
In the Arabic tradition, the name Najma was likely given to girls born during a significant celestial event or under a particularly bright star. The name holds deep cultural significance, reflecting the importance placed on astronomy and celestial bodies in the region's history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Najma can be found in the 10th century work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a celebrated anthology of Arabic poetry and songs. The name is mentioned in a poem describing a beautiful woman with the radiance of a star.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Najma. Najma Heptulla (born 1940) is an Indian politician and former Governor of Manipur. Najma Heptulla served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Najma Akbar (born 1939) is a Pakistani writer and activist known for her work on women's rights and social issues. She is the author of several books, including "Blasphemy and the Govern," which explores the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
Najma Sadeque (1937-2018) was a renowned Bangladeshi journalist and writer. She was the founding editor of the Bangladeshi women's magazine "Begum" and played a significant role in promoting women's education and empowerment in her country.
Najma Ayaz (born 1956) is a Pakistani television and film actress known for her work in both Urdu and Punjabi productions. She has received several awards, including the Pride of Performance from the Government of Pakistan.
Najma Khan (born 1956) is a British-Pakistani actress and comedian. She is known for her work in television shows like "Goodness Gracious Me" and "Citizen Khan," where she has explored themes of cultural identity and humor.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Najma throughout history, reflecting its cultural significance and enduring popularity across various regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Najma over time
The chart below shows babies named Najma 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 Najma, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 49 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Najma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Najma 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 | #2958 | 41 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2118 | 139 | 10 |
| 2000s | #825 | 354 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1133 | 76 | 4 |
Geography
Where Najma is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Najma. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Najma ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #530 in 1982.
Across the UK
Najma in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#530 in 1982
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Najma
-
Najma Akhtar
singer; jazz musician
singer
1962-
Related
Names similar to Najma
- 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
Najma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Najma in the UK right now?
In 2024, Najma was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Najma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 49 babies registered as Najma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Najma?
A feminine Arabic name that means "star.".
How many people are called Najma in the UK?
A total of 610 babies have been registered as Najma across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Najma most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Najma ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #530 in 1982. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.