NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tabassum

An Arabic name meaning smile or joy.

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.

Tabassum is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tabassum popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 18 births.

This profile covers 180 England and Wales registrations across 24 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 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 179 living people in the UK are called Tabassum. 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

  • Tabassum ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 18 girls were registered as Tabassum.
  • About 179 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tabassum as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2001

18 births

Estimated living

179

2026

Meaning

What does Tabassum mean?

The name Tabassum has its roots in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "tabassama," which means "to smile." It is a name that originated in the Middle East and has been used since ancient times.

Tabassum is a name that has been associated with beauty, joy, and happiness throughout history. In the Persian literary tradition, the name is often used as a metaphor for the radiance and warmth of a smile.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tabassum can be found in the 13th-century Persian epic poem, "Shahnameh," written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi. In this work, Tabassum is mentioned as the name of a beautiful princess.

During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century, several notable figures bore the name Tabassum. Among them was Tabassum bint Ismā'īl al-Samarqandī, a renowned female scholar and poet who lived in the 10th century and was known for her contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence.

In more recent history, Tabassum has been a popular name among Muslims in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Tabassum Hashmi, an Indian actress, and television host who was widely known as the "First Lady of Indian Television." She was born in 1944 and had a career spanning over six decades.

Another notable figure with the name Tabassum was Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, a Pakistani writer, and social activist who was born in 1919. She was a pioneer in the women's rights movement in Pakistan and played a significant role in promoting education and empowerment for women in the country.

In the realm of literature, Tabassum Kashmiri was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from India, who was born in 1920 and made significant contributions to the Urdu literary landscape through her poetry and prose.

Tabassum Fatima was a prominent Pakistani politician and women's rights activist who served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990. She was also a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in the country.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Tabassum throughout history, reflecting its enduring significance and the diverse cultures and regions where it has been embraced.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tabassum over time

The chart below shows babies named Tabassum 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 Tabassum, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tabassum
0591418199620102024

Decades

Tabassum by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tabassum 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 #4940 8 2
2010s #4553 37 8
2000s #2252 96 10
1990s #1796 39 4

Related

Names similar to Tabassum

FAQ

Tabassum: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Tabassum was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Tabassum most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 18 babies registered as Tabassum in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tabassum?

An Arabic name meaning smile or joy.

How many people are called Tabassum in the UK?

A total of 180 babies have been registered as Tabassum across the 24 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.