UK girl's name
Sabah
The name of Arabic origin refers to early morning or dawn.
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.
Sabah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sabah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 93 births.
This profile covers 1,067 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,078 living people in the UK are called Sabah. 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
- • Sabah ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 93 girls were registered as Sabah.
- • Sabah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #667 in 2003.
- • About 1,078 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sabah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2001
93 births
Estimated living
1,078
2026
Meaning
What does Sabah mean?
The name Sabah originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "sabah," which means "morning" or "dawn." This name is often associated with the beauty and freshness of a new day, signifying a new beginning or a fresh start.
In the Islamic tradition, Sabah is considered a virtuous name, as it is mentioned in the Qur'an as one of the attributes of Allah. The verse "Fa Subhan Allah hina tumsoon wa hina tusbihoon" (Quran 30:17) translates to "So glorify Allah when you enter the evening and when you arise in the morning."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sabah can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and scholars from the 7th and 8th centuries. The name gained popularity during the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th centuries, and was often given to individuals born in the early hours of the day.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sabah. One of the most prominent was Sabah al-Din Ghaznavi (1020-1099), a Persian Muslim poet and philosopher who lived during the Seljuk Empire. His works, particularly his collection of poems titled "Diwan," have had a lasting influence on Persian literature.
Another notable figure was Sabah al-Din Mahmud Malik al-Muazzam (1165-1227), a Kurdish prince and ruler of the Ayyubid dynasty. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Levant against the Crusaders and was known for his military prowess and strategic acumen.
In the modern era, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (1929-2020) was the Emir of Kuwait from 2006 to 2020. He was widely respected for his efforts in promoting regional stability and economic development in the Persian Gulf region.
Additionally, Sabah Amir (1944-2016) was an influential Egyptian writer and literary critic. Her works, which explored themes of feminism and social justice, earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature.
Sabah Fakhri (1933-2022) was a renowned Syrian singer and actress, often referred to as the "Queen of Syrian Song." Her iconic voice and performances captivated audiences across the Arab world, and she played a significant role in preserving and promoting Syrian cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sabah over time
The chart below shows babies named Sabah 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 Sabah, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 93 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sabah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sabah 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 | #3840 | 22 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2086 | 155 | 10 |
| 2000s | #614 | 591 | 10 |
| 1990s | #418 | 299 | 4 |
Geography
Where Sabah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sabah. 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.
Sabah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #667 in 2003.
Across the UK
Sabah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#667 in 2003
5 years of NRS records, 18 total registered
Related
Names similar to Sabah
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sabah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sabah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sabah was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Sabah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 93 babies registered as Sabah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sabah?
The name of Arabic origin refers to early morning or dawn.
How many people are called Sabah in the UK?
A total of 1,067 babies have been registered as Sabah across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 18 more in Scotland.
Where is Sabah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sabah ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #667 in 2003. 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.