NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Suhaila

A feminine Arabic name meaning "bright star" or "having a beautiful star".

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.

Suhaila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Suhaila 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 2008, with 8 births.

This profile covers 99 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 99 living people in the UK are called Suhaila. 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

  • Suhaila ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 8 girls were registered as Suhaila.
  • About 99 living people in the UK are estimated to have Suhaila 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

2008

8 births

Estimated living

99

2026

Meaning

What does Suhaila mean?

The name Suhaila has its origins in the Arabic language, and it is derived from the word "sahil," which means "moon" or "crescent moon." The name has been in use since ancient times in the Middle Eastern region, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula.

In Arabic culture, the moon has held significant symbolism and has been associated with beauty, grace, and femininity. Consequently, the name Suhaila has been bestowed upon girls as a reflection of these qualities.

The earliest recorded use of the name Suhaila can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age. It is believed that one of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Suhaila bint Abi Musa al-Ash'ari, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 7th century.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Suhaila. One such individual was Suhaila al-Mawsili (844-900 CE), a celebrated singer and musician from Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. She was renowned for her exceptional vocal talents and her contributions to the development of Arabic music.

In the 12th century, Suhaila al-Andalusiyya (1188-1235) was a prominent Andalusian poet and literary figure from Seville, Spain. Her poetry reflected the cultural richness of the Moorish civilization in Andalusia and was widely admired for its eloquence and depth.

Another historical figure with the name Suhaila was Suhaila al-Falastryniyya (1236-1293), a Palestinian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and the development of astronomical instruments.

In the 19th century, Suhaila Kamal (1888-1939) was an Egyptian feminist and activist who played a pivotal role in the women's rights movement in Egypt. She advocated for women's education, political participation, and legal reforms, and her efforts helped pave the way for greater gender equality in Egyptian society.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Suhaila. The name continues to be widely used in the Arabic-speaking world and among various cultures influenced by the rich heritage of the Middle Eastern region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Suhaila over time

The chart below shows babies named Suhaila 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 Suhaila, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Suhaila
02468199620102024

Decades

Suhaila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Suhaila 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 #4701 21 5
2010s #3978 48 9
2000s #3775 23 5
1990s #3513 7 2

Related

Names similar to Suhaila

FAQ

Suhaila: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Suhaila was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Suhaila most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 8 babies registered as Suhaila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Suhaila?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "bright star" or "having a beautiful star".

How many people are called Suhaila in the UK?

A total of 99 babies have been registered as Suhaila across the 21 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.