UK boy's name
Samad
Eternal, imperishable; an Arabic name meaning "the One who fulfills.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Samad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Samad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 19 births.
This profile covers 227 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 225 living people in the UK are called Samad. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Samad ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 19 boys were registered as Samad.
- • About 225 living people in the UK are estimated to have Samad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
19 births
Estimated living
225
2026
Meaning
What does Samad mean?
The name Samad finds its origins in the Arabic language, where it is derived from the root word "samad," which means "eternal" or "everlasting." This name has been in use for centuries, with its roots tracing back to the pre-Islamic era in the Arabian Peninsula.
One of the earliest known references to the name Samad can be found in the Quran, the sacred text of Islam. In the Quran, Allah is referred to as "As-Samad," which is one of the 99 names of God and translates to "The Eternal" or "The Self-Sufficient." This association with the divine has given the name Samad a profound spiritual significance within the Islamic tradition.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Samad. One of the earliest recorded examples is Samad ibn al-Mu'adhdhal (d. 835 CE), a prominent Arab poet and scholar from Kufa, Iraq, during the Abbasid Caliphate. Another notable figure was Samad Khan (1732-1788), a Rohilla chieftain who played a significant role in the military and political affairs of northern India during the 18th century.
In the realm of Islamic scholarship, Samad al-Hafiz al-Dimashqi (d. 1172 CE) was a renowned Hafiz (someone who has memorized the entire Quran) and scholar from Damascus. His contributions to the preservation and study of the Quran and Islamic teachings were widely recognized during his time.
Moving forward, Samad Khan Shaheed (1857-1919) was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. He was a revolutionary and a close associate of Bhagat Singh, and his sacrifice for the cause of Indian freedom earned him the title of "Shaheed" (martyr).
In contemporary times, Samad Vurgun (1906-1956) was a celebrated Azerbaijani poet and playwright, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Azerbaijani literature. His works played a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the Azerbaijani people and promoting their language and literature on a global stage.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Samad throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Samad over time
The chart below shows babies named Samad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Samad, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Samad by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Samad 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 | #3336 | 11 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3255 | 60 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1545 | 113 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1344 | 43 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Samad
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Samad: questions and answers
How popular is the name Samad in the UK right now?
In 2021, Samad was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Samad most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 19 babies registered as Samad in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Samad?
Eternal, imperishable; an Arabic name meaning "the One who fulfills.".
How many people are called Samad in the UK?
A total of 227 babies have been registered as Samad across the 26 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.