NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Saadia

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "blissful" or "fortunate".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Saadia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saadia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 11 births.

This profile covers 110 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 115 living people in the UK are called Saadia. 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 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Saadia ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 11 girls were registered as Saadia.
  • Saadia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #783 in 2009.
  • About 115 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saadia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4763

2017

Births in 2017

4

Latest year

Peak year

1996

11 births

Estimated living

115

2026

Meaning

What does Saadia mean?

The name Saadia has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic root "sa'ada," which means "happiness" or "bliss." The name is believed to have gained popularity in the Middle East and North Africa during the Islamic Golden Age, roughly spanning the 8th to the 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Saadia can be found in the works of the renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar, Saadia Gaon (882-942 CE). Born in Egypt, he played a significant role in the development of Jewish thought and is considered one of the most influential figures in the Rabbinic tradition.

Another notable figure with the name Saadia was the 11th-century Iranian poet and philosopher, Saadia Shirazi (979-1050 CE). His works, particularly in the fields of philosophy and mathematics, left a lasting impact on the intellectual landscape of the time.

In the realm of literature, the name Saadia is associated with the 13th-century Egyptian-born Jewish poet and scholar, Saadia ben Maimon ibn Danan (1180-1240 CE). His poetic works were highly regarded and contributed to the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Moving forward in history, Saadia Razi (1615-1676 CE) was a renowned Persian physician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and the study of the human body.

More recently, Saadia Munavvar (1874-1949) was a prominent Indian poet and writer who played a crucial role in the literary and cultural renaissance of the Urdu language. Her works explored themes of love, spirituality, and social reform, leaving a lasting legacy in the literary world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Saadia throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human knowledge and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Saadia over time

The chart below shows babies named Saadia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Saadia, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2017, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Saadia
036811199620062017

Decades

Saadia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saadia 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
2010s #4928 24 6
2000s #3397 53 10
1990s #2037 33 4

Geography

Where Saadia is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Saadia. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Saadia ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #783 in 2009.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Saadia in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#783 in 2009

2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered

Related

Names similar to Saadia

FAQ

Saadia: questions and answers

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

In 2017, Saadia was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Saadia most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 11 babies registered as Saadia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Saadia?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "blissful" or "fortunate".

How many people are called Saadia in the UK?

A total of 110 babies have been registered as Saadia across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.

Where is Saadia most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Saadia ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #783 in 2009. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.