UK boy's name
Ridwan
An Arabic name meaning "gateway to paradise" or "gardens of paradise".
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.
Ridwan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ridwan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 50 births.
This profile covers 793 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 787 living people in the UK are called Ridwan. 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
- • Ridwan ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 50 boys were registered as Ridwan.
- • About 787 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ridwan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1460
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2011
50 births
Estimated living
787
2026
Meaning
What does Ridwan mean?
The name Ridwan has its origins in Arabic, derived from the word "Rida" meaning "satisfaction" or "contentment," and "Wan" meaning "possessor of." The name can be translated to mean "the one who possesses contentment" or "the one who is satisfied." It is believed to have emerged in the 7th century during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
Ridwan is mentioned in several Islamic texts, including the Quran and the Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad). In the Quran, Ridwan is referred to as the name of the angel who guards the gates of Paradise. The name is also associated with the concept of "Jannah" (Paradise) in Islamic theology, signifying the ultimate state of contentment and bliss.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ridwan can be found in the works of the celebrated Islamic scholar and historian, Ibn Ishaq, who lived in the 8th century. He mentions a companion of Prophet Muhammad named Ridwan ibn al-Harith al-Fazari, who fought alongside the Prophet in various battles.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ridwan. One of the most famous was Ridwan ibn al-Walid (born around 652 CE), a military commander who served under the Umayyad Caliphate and played a crucial role in the Muslim conquests of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Another prominent figure was Ridwan al-Samarkandi (born around 1040 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher from Samarkand, who made significant contributions to the fields of logic, metaphysics, and ethics.
In the 13th century, Ridwan al-Sayfi (born around 1200 CE) was a prominent Arab poet and writer from Egypt, known for his mastery of the Arabic language and his influential works on poetry and literature.
During the Ottoman Empire, Ridwan Pasha (1510-1563 CE) was a celebrated military commander and Grand Vizier, known for his successful campaigns against the Safavid Empire and his contributions to the expansion of the Ottoman territories.
In more recent times, Ridwan Saidi (1935-2008) was an influential Indonesian writer and journalist, known for his works on social and political issues, as well as his efforts in promoting literary and cultural development in his country.
While the name Ridwan has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and is now used across various regions and communities around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ridwan over time
The chart below shows babies named Ridwan 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 Ridwan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 50 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ridwan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ridwan 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 | #1451 | 89 | 5 |
| 2010s | #911 | 348 | 10 |
| 2000s | #766 | 316 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1318 | 40 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ridwan
- 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
Ridwan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ridwan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ridwan was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Ridwan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 50 babies registered as Ridwan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ridwan?
An Arabic name meaning "gateway to paradise" or "gardens of paradise".
How many people are called Ridwan in the UK?
A total of 793 babies have been registered as Ridwan 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.