UK boy's name
Rakim
An Arabic name meaning "generous" or "sublime".
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.
Rakim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rakim 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 1998, with 9 births.
This profile covers 61 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1997 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 33% 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 Rakim. 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
- • Rakim ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 9 boys were registered as Rakim.
- • About 60 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rakim 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
1998
9 births
Estimated living
60
2026
Meaning
What does Rakim mean?
The name Rakim is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "raqim," which means "writer" or "engraver." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during the early days of Islam.
The earliest known reference to the name Rakim can be found in ancient Arabic texts, where it was used to describe scribes and calligraphers who were skilled in the art of writing and engraving. As Islam spread across the Middle East and North Africa, the name gained popularity among Muslims and became associated with scholarly pursuits and the preservation of knowledge.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Rakim was an 8th-century Arab poet and scholar known as Rakim al-Jayhani. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of Arabic literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.
Another notable figure bearing the name Rakim was a 10th-century Persian mathematician and astronomer named Rakim al-Bukhari. He made significant advancements in the field of mathematics and is credited with developing new methods for solving complex equations.
In the 13th century, there was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist named Rakim al-Din al-Nawawi. He was widely respected for his expertise in Islamic law and his commentaries on the hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).
During the Ottoman Empire, a famous Turkish calligrapher named Rakim Efendi lived in the 16th century. He was renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills and his contributions to the art of Islamic calligraphy.
In more recent history, Rakim Mayers, better known as Rakim or Ra, is an American rapper and record producer who rose to fame in the late 1980s. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled lyricists in hip-hop history and is often referred to as the "God MC."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rakim over time
The chart below shows babies named Rakim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Rakim, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rakim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rakim 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 | #4543 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4647 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3348 | 26 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1639 | 22 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Rakim
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rakim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rakim in the UK right now?
In 2023, Rakim was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rakim most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 9 babies registered as Rakim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rakim?
An Arabic name meaning "generous" or "sublime".
How many people are called Rakim in the UK?
A total of 61 babies have been registered as Rakim 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.