UK boy's name
Naqeeb
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "leader" or "commander".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Naqeeb is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Naqeeb popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3895, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 7 births.
This profile covers 60 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1997 to 2014. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 60 living people in the UK are called Naqeeb. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Naqeeb ranked #3895 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 7 boys were registered as Naqeeb.
- • About 60 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naqeeb as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3895
2014
Births in 2014
4
Latest year
Peak year
2005
7 births
Estimated living
60
2026
Meaning
What does Naqeeb mean?
The name Naqeeb has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Naqib," which means "leader" or "commander." This name has been in use in the Arab world and among Muslim communities for centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Naqeeb dates back to the 7th century, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. It was commonly used to refer to leaders and military commanders in the armies of the early Muslim caliphates.
One of the most notable historical references to the name Naqeeb is found in the "Kitab al-Aghani," a famous anthology of Arabic poetry and songs compiled in the 9th century. The book mentions several individuals with the name Naqeeb who were prominent figures in their time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Naqeeb. One of the earliest was Naqeeb al-Ashraf (d. 976), a powerful military commander and governor during the Abbasid Caliphate. Another was Naqeeb al-Nuqaba (d. 1014), a distinguished military leader and poet who served under the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt.
In the 12th century, Naqeeb al-Din al-Husayni (1145-1207) was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Baghdad. He was known for his contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and his expertise in hadith literature.
During the 13th century, Naqeeb al-Dawla (d. 1258) was a powerful military commander who played a crucial role in the Ayyubid dynasty's defense against the Mongol invasions. He is remembered for his valor and leadership in the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260.
In more recent times, Naqeeb Ali Khan (1905-1976) was a notable Indian politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of West Bengal and the Indian Ambassador to several countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
While the name Naqeeb has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended cultural boundaries and been adopted by people of various backgrounds around the world, reflecting the rich diversity and cross-cultural exchange that has shaped human history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naqeeb over time
The chart below shows babies named Naqeeb registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Naqeeb, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2014, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naqeeb by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naqeeb 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 | #3686 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3094 | 42 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2022 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Naqeeb
- 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
Naqeeb: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naqeeb in the UK right now?
In 2014, Naqeeb was ranked #3895 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Naqeeb most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 7 babies registered as Naqeeb in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naqeeb?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "leader" or "commander".
How many people are called Naqeeb in the UK?
A total of 60 babies have been registered as Naqeeb across the 14 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.