NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Rakeem

An Arabic masculine name meaning "fortunate" or "charming".

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.

Rakeem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rakeem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 14 births.

This profile covers 166 England and Wales registrations across 27 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 165 living people in the UK are called Rakeem. 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

  • Rakeem ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 14 boys were registered as Rakeem.
  • About 165 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rakeem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2000

14 births

Estimated living

165

2026

Meaning

What does Rakeem mean?

The name Rakeem has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "raqim," which means "inscriber" or "one who inscribes." The name is believed to have originated during the early Islamic period, around the 7th century AD, when Arabic was the dominant language of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rakeem can be found in the ancient Arabic texts, where it was used to refer to individuals who were skilled in calligraphy and the art of writing. This connection to inscribing and writing suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were scholars, scribes, or calligraphers.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rakeem. One such person was Rakeem al-Baghdadi, a renowned scholar and calligrapher who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century AD. He was renowned for his mastery of the Arabic script and his contributions to the art of calligraphy.

Another prominent figure with the name Rakeem was Rakeem al-Andalusi, a scholar and historian from the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) during the 11th century AD. He is best known for his works documenting the history and culture of the Islamic civilization in the region.

In the 13th century, there was Rakeem al-Qazwini, a celebrated geographer and traveler from modern-day Iran. His writings provided detailed accounts of the lands and peoples he encountered during his extensive travels, offering invaluable insights into the world at that time.

Moving forward in time, one cannot overlook Rakeem al-Khayyam, a renowned mathematician and philosopher from Persia (modern-day Iran) in the 12th century AD. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in algebra and his philosophical writings, which have had a lasting impact on both fields.

Finally, in more recent history, there was Rakeem al-Ghazzawi, a notable Egyptian writer and journalist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a prominent figure in the Egyptian literary scene and played a significant role in shaping the country's cultural and intellectual discourse during that period.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Rakeem, each contributing to various fields and leaving an indelible mark on their respective disciplines and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rakeem over time

The chart below shows babies named Rakeem 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 Rakeem, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rakeem
0471114199620102024

Decades

Rakeem by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rakeem 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 #4191 16 4
2010s #3270 53 9
2000s #2557 68 10
1990s #1620 29 4

Related

Names similar to Rakeem

FAQ

Rakeem: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rakeem was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rakeem most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 14 babies registered as Rakeem in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rakeem?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "fortunate" or "charming".

How many people are called Rakeem in the UK?

A total of 166 babies have been registered as Rakeem across the 27 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.