UK girl's name
Suheyla
A feminine name of Turkish origin meaning "star cluster of morning twilight".
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.
Suheyla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Suheyla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 5 births.
This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2005 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Suheyla. 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
- • Suheyla ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 5 girls were registered as Suheyla.
- • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Suheyla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
5 births
Estimated living
30
2026
Meaning
What does Suheyla mean?
The name Suheyla is of Arabic origin and it has been in use since ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "sahla," which means "smooth" or "easy." The name is thought to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula, where it was given to baby girls as a wish for them to have a smooth and easy life.
One of the earliest known references to the name Suheyla can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and writers from the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Several poems and stories from that era mention women with this name, indicating its widespread use among the Arab population at the time.
In Islamic tradition, Suheyla is also believed to be the name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad's companions. This association with the early days of Islam has contributed to the name's popularity among Muslim communities worldwide.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Suheyla. One of the earliest recorded examples is Suheyla bint Jafar (d. 770 AD), a famous Arab poetess from the Abbasid era. Her works were widely celebrated and she was known for her wit and intelligence.
Another famous Suheyla was Suheyla al-Muradiya (d. 1262 AD), a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Damascus. She was highly respected for her spiritual teachings and her contributions to the field of Islamic philosophy.
In the 19th century, Suheyla Pasha (1813-1888) was a prominent Ottoman statesman and diplomat. He served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and played a significant role in the modernization efforts of the empire.
In more recent times, Suheyla El-Attar (1920-2008) was an Egyptian actress and singer who gained widespread popularity for her roles in Egyptian films and musicals during the mid-20th century.
Another notable figure was Suheyla Berje (1904-1994), a Kurdish writer and activist who fought for the rights of Kurdish women. She was one of the first Kurdish women to publish her works and is considered a pioneer in Kurdish literature.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Suheyla. The name has remained popular across various cultures and regions, particularly in the Middle East and among Muslim communities, due to its rich historical and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Suheyla over time
The chart below shows babies named Suheyla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Suheyla, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Suheyla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Suheyla 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 | #5537 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4799 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4132 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Suheyla
- 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
Suheyla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Suheyla in the UK right now?
In 2021, Suheyla was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Suheyla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 5 babies registered as Suheyla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Suheyla?
A feminine name of Turkish origin meaning "star cluster of morning twilight".
How many people are called Suheyla in the UK?
A total of 30 babies have been registered as Suheyla across the 8 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.