UK boy's name
Shoaib
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "he who attends people well".
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.
Shoaib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shoaib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 92 births.
This profile covers 590 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 3% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 591 living people in the UK are called Shoaib. 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
- • Shoaib ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 92 boys were registered as Shoaib.
- • Shoaib ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
- • About 591 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shoaib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
92 births
Estimated living
591
2026
Meaning
What does Shoaib mean?
The name Shoaib originates from the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "sha'b," which means "people" or "tribe." It is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, as it appears in the Quran, the holy book of Muslims.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shoaib can be found in the Quran, where it refers to the prophet Shuaib, who was sent to the people of Midian. The story of Shuaib is mentioned in several chapters of the Quran, including chapters 7, 11, and 26. In these chapters, Shuaib is depicted as a messenger of God who preached monotheism and moral values to his people.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shoaib. One of the most famous was Shoaib Ahmed (1515-1595), a renowned Sufi saint and scholar from present-day Pakistan. He was known for his spiritual teachings and his contributions to the spread of Islam in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Shoaib was Shoaib Daniyal (1699-1763), a Persian poet and writer who lived during the Mughal Empire. He was renowned for his mastery of the Persian language and his contributions to the literary tradition of the time.
In more recent times, Shoaib Akhtar (born 1975) is a former Pakistani cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the history of the sport. He played international cricket for Pakistan from 1997 to 2011 and is considered a legend of the game.
Shoaib Malik (born 1982) is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented his country in all three formats of the game. He is considered one of the most successful all-rounders in Pakistani cricket history and has captained the national team on several occasions.
Shoaib Sultan Khan (born 1987) is a Pakistani squash player who has achieved significant success on the professional squash circuit. He has won numerous titles and has been ranked among the top players in the world.
Overall, the name Shoaib has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Islamic world. Its origins can be traced back to the early days of Islam, and it has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, from religious scholars and poets to athletes and performers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shoaib over time
The chart below shows babies named Shoaib 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 Shoaib, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 92 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shoaib by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shoaib 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 | #3425 | 28 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2324 | 100 | 10 |
| 2000s | #884 | 316 | 10 |
| 1990s | #705 | 146 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shoaib is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shoaib. 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.
Shoaib ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
Across the UK
Shoaib in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#429 in 2000
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shoaib
- 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
Shoaib: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shoaib in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shoaib was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shoaib most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 92 babies registered as Shoaib in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shoaib?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "he who attends people well".
How many people are called Shoaib in the UK?
A total of 590 babies have been registered as Shoaib across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Shoaib most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shoaib ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #429 in 2000. 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.