UK boy's name
Shabaz
An Arabic name meaning "honor" or "nobility".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shabaz is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shabaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4678, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 20 births.
This profile covers 123 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. 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 15% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 130 living people in the UK are called Shabaz. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shabaz ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 20 boys were registered as Shabaz.
- • Shabaz ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #327 in 1987.
- • About 130 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shabaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4678
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
20 births
Estimated living
130
2026
Meaning
What does Shabaz mean?
The name Shabaz is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, derived from the word "shab-baz," which means "falcon of the night" or "night hawk." This name is rooted in ancient Persian culture and mythology, where falcons and hawks held significant symbolic meaning, often representing strength, courage, and nobility.
In the early centuries of Islamic civilization, the name Shabaz gained popularity among Persian and Arab communities. It was a name frequently given to male children, reflecting the admiration for the qualities associated with falcons, such as keen vision, swiftness, and hunting prowess.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shabaz can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi, who composed the epic poem "Shahnameh" in the late 10th century. In this literary masterpiece, Shabaz is mentioned as the name of a character, though little is known about the historical figure behind the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shabaz. One of the most famous was Shabaz Bhatti (1956-2011), a Pakistani Christian human rights activist and the first federal minister for minority affairs in Pakistan. He was assassinated in 2011 for his outspoken advocacy against the country's blasphemy laws.
Another prominent figure with the name Shabaz was Shabaz Bihari (1612-1707), a renowned Sufi poet and mystic from the Indian subcontinent. His spiritual verses, known as "Shabaz Ke Ghazlein," have been widely celebrated and studied by scholars of Sufi literature.
In the realm of sports, Shabaz Ahmed (born 1995) is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented his nation in international cricket matches, making his debut in 2021. His achievements as a skilled all-rounder have brought him recognition among cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Shabaz Khan (1639-1696) was a prominent military leader and governor during the Mughal Empire in India. He served under the emperor Aurangzeb and played a crucial role in various military campaigns, earning a reputation for his strategic acumen and bravery on the battlefield.
Lastly, Shabaz Hussain (born 1985) is a British actor and writer of Pakistani descent, known for his roles in various television series and films. His artistic talents and commitment to portraying diverse characters have garnered him critical acclaim within the entertainment industry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shabaz over time
The chart below shows babies named Shabaz registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shabaz, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shabaz by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shabaz 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 | #4678 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #1962 | 70 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1191 | 50 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shabaz is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shabaz. 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.
Shabaz ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #327 in 1987.
Across the UK
Shabaz in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#327 in 1987
3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shabaz
- 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
Shabaz: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shabaz in the UK right now?
In 2010, Shabaz was ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shabaz most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 20 babies registered as Shabaz in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shabaz?
An Arabic name meaning "honor" or "nobility".
How many people are called Shabaz in the UK?
A total of 123 babies have been registered as Shabaz across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Shabaz most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shabaz ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #327 in 1987. 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.