NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Nidal

An Arabic name meaning struggle, strife, or combat.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nidal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nidal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 8 births.

This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2001 to 2023. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Nidal. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nidal ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 8 boys were registered as Nidal.
  • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nidal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

8 births

Estimated living

27

2026

Meaning

What does Nidal mean?

The name Nidal has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "nidaal," which means "struggle" or "fight." The name is believed to have emerged in the Middle Ages, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age.

Nidal is a masculine given name that is particularly popular in the Arab world, especially in countries like Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. It has been used as a first name for centuries, and its meaning is often associated with perseverance, determination, and resilience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nidal can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher, Al-Mutanabbi, who lived in the 10th century. In his poetry, he often referred to the concept of "nidaal" as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges faced by individuals and societies.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Nidal. One of the most famous was Nidal al-Shami, a Syrian poet and writer who lived in the 13th century. His works were widely celebrated for their eloquence and depth, and he is considered a prominent figure in the literary tradition of the Arab world.

Another notable Nidal was Nidal al-Qassam, a Syrian-born Palestinian leader and activist who played a significant role in the Palestinian resistance movement against British colonial rule in the 1930s. He was killed in 1935 during a confrontation with British forces, and his name has since become a symbol of resistance and struggle for Palestinian independence.

In more recent times, Nidal Malik was a prominent Pakistani politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan from 1997 to 1998. He was born in 1936 and played a crucial role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy during a turbulent period in the region's history.

Nidal Nasser, an Egyptian actor and filmmaker, was also a notable figure who bore this name. He was born in 1938 and became known for his roles in several critically acclaimed Egyptian films, including "The Mummy" and "The Emigrant."

Nidal Aboud, an Iraqi-American artist and sculptor, was another individual with the name Nidal who made significant contributions to the arts. He was born in 1957 and is renowned for his large-scale public sculptures that explore themes of identity, displacement, and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nidal over time

The chart below shows babies named Nidal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nidal, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nidal
02468200120122023

Decades

Nidal by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nidal 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 #4991 3 1
2010s #3923 14 3
2000s #3770 10 3

Related

Names similar to Nidal

FAQ

Nidal: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Nidal was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nidal most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 8 babies registered as Nidal in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nidal?

An Arabic name meaning struggle, strife, or combat.

How many people are called Nidal in the UK?

A total of 27 babies have been registered as Nidal across the 7 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.