NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nashwa

A name of Arabic origin meaning "breeze" or "fragrance".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nashwa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nashwa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3397, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 6 births.

This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1997 to 2008. 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.

Nashwa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Nashwa. 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 2009 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nashwa ranked #3397 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 6 girls were registered as Nashwa.
  • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nashwa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3397

2008

Births in 2008

6

Latest year

Peak year

2008

6 births

Estimated living

13

2026

Meaning

What does Nashwa mean?

The name Nashwa finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "nashwa," which translates to "joy" or "delight." The name is believed to have emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period, when Arabic names and Islamic traditions were widespread across the region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Nashwa can be found in classical Arabic literature, particularly in poetry and literary works from the 8th to 12th centuries. Poets and writers of that era often used the name Nashwa as a metaphor for joy, happiness, and spiritual bliss.

In the realm of historical figures, the name Nashwa was borne by several notable individuals throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Nashwa bint al-Hasan al-Basri (born in 686 CE), a renowned Muslim scholar and theologian known for her expertise in Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence.

Another prominent figure was Nashwa al-Mutanabbi (915-965 CE), a celebrated Arab poet widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in the Arabic language. His works, which explored themes of love, nature, and human emotions, were highly influential and are still widely studied and admired today.

In the 11th century, Nashwa al-Andalusiyya (1025-1106 CE) was a renowned Andalusian poet and literary scholar from the Iberian Peninsula. Her poetry, which often centered on themes of love and spirituality, was highly acclaimed and contributed significantly to the literary and cultural heritage of the Islamic Golden Age in Spain.

During the 13th century, Nashwa bint al-Mamdouh (1230-1295 CE) was a prominent Syrian scholar and poet. She was renowned for her mastery of Arabic language and literature, as well as her contributions to the fields of Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

In more recent history, Nashwa al-Ruwaini (1940-2015) was an influential Omani writer, novelist, and activist. She played a significant role in promoting women's rights and education in the Arab world and was widely celebrated for her literary works, which explored themes of social change and cultural identity.

These are just a few examples of the many notable figures who have borne the name Nashwa throughout history, each contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Arab and Islamic world in their own unique way.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nashwa over time

The chart below shows babies named Nashwa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nashwa, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2008, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nashwa
02356199720022008

Decades

Nashwa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nashwa 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 #4299 9 2
1990s #3174 4 1

Related

Names similar to Nashwa

FAQ

Nashwa: questions and answers

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

In 2008, Nashwa was ranked #3397 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Nashwa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 6 babies registered as Nashwa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nashwa?

A name of Arabic origin meaning "breeze" or "fragrance".

How many people are called Nashwa in the UK?

A total of 13 babies have been registered as Nashwa across the 3 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.