NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Owais

A masculine Arabic name meaning "small gift from God".

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.

Owais is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Owais popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1108, with 26 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 59 births.

This profile covers 891 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 885 living people in the UK are called Owais. 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

  • Owais ranked #1108 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 26 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 59 boys were registered as Owais.
  • About 885 living people in the UK are estimated to have Owais as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1108

2024

Births in 2024

26

Latest year

Peak year

2009

59 births

Estimated living

885

2026

Meaning

What does Owais mean?

The name Owais is an Arabic name derived from the root word "wais" which means "the gazelle" or "the deer". It originated in the Arabian Peninsula and has been in use since ancient times.

Owais is a name mentioned in Islamic traditions and is believed to be the name of a famous companion of the Prophet Muhammad. According to historical accounts, Owais Al-Qarani was a pious man who lived in Yemen during the 7th century and was known for his devotion and spiritual wisdom.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Owais can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians, such as Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, who wrote extensively about the life of Owais Al-Qarani.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Owais. One of the most famous was Owais Al-Qarni (598-657 CE), a revered Islamic scholar and mystic from Yemen. He was known for his profound knowledge of the Quran and his spiritual teachings, which had a significant influence on Sufism.

Another prominent figure was Owais Jalaluddin Bukhari (1506-1590 CE), a renowned Sufi saint and poet from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan. He was a prolific writer and composed numerous poems and works on Sufism, which are still widely studied and admired today.

In the 18th century, Owais Khan (1700-1781) was a prominent military commander and statesman who served as the Nawab of Carnatic in southern India. He is credited with expanding the Carnatic kingdom's territory and strengthening its military power.

Owais Siddiqi (1938-2013) was a celebrated Urdu poet and scholar from Pakistan. He was widely acclaimed for his poetic works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and human emotions. His poetry continues to resonate with readers across the subcontinent.

Owais Qarni (1923-2008) was a renowned Islamic scholar and preacher from Saudi Arabia. He was highly respected for his profound knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to religious education. His lectures and teachings had a profound impact on generations of students and scholars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Owais over time

The chart below shows babies named Owais 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 Owais, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 26 births in 2024, compared with 59 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Owais
015304459199620102024

Decades

Owais by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Owais 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 #1094 138 5
2010s #958 333 10
2000s #685 376 10
1990s #1193 44 4

Related

Names similar to Owais

FAQ

Owais: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Owais was ranked #1108 for boys in England and Wales, with 26 births registered.

When was Owais most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 59 babies registered as Owais in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Owais?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "small gift from God".

How many people are called Owais in the UK?

A total of 891 babies have been registered as Owais across the 29 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.