UK boy's name
Talib
A masculine Arabic name meaning "seeker of knowledge" or "student".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Talib is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Talib popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3334, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 7 births.
This profile covers 41 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2002 to 2020. 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 41 living people in the UK are called Talib. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Talib ranked #3334 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 7 boys were registered as Talib.
- • About 41 living people in the UK are estimated to have Talib as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3334
2020
Births in 2020
5
Latest year
Peak year
2004
7 births
Estimated living
41
2026
Meaning
What does Talib mean?
The name Talib originated from the Arabic language and culture, with its roots dating back to the 7th century AD. The word "Talib" is derived from the Arabic term "Talab," which means "seeker" or "student." This name was commonly associated with individuals who were seekers of knowledge or students of Islamic teachings.
One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Talib can be found in Islamic religious texts, particularly in connection with the prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ali, who lived from around 601 to 661 AD, was revered as the fourth caliph of Islam and played a crucial role in the early development of the religion.
Throughout history, the name Talib has been borne by several influential figures in various fields. One such individual was Talib ibn Sahl, a renowned Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 8th century AD. He made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and authored several works on astronomy.
Another notable figure was Talib al-Makki, a Sufi scholar and mystic who lived in the 10th century AD. He was renowned for his philosophical and spiritual teachings and wrote several influential works on Sufism, including the celebrated text "Qut al-Qulub" (The Nourishment of Hearts).
In the literary realm, Talib al-Nahawi was a prominent Arab poet and grammarian who lived during the 9th century AD. He is credited with contributing to the development of Arabic grammar and poetic traditions.
The name Talib has also been associated with political and military figures throughout history. For example, Talib Jalil Kamel was an Iraqi politician and military leader who played a significant role in the Iraqi revolution against British rule in the early 20th century.
It is important to note that while the name Talib has a rich historical background, its popularity and usage have varied across different regions and time periods. However, its Arabic roots and association with seekers of knowledge and influential figures have contributed to its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Talib over time
The chart below shows babies named Talib registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Talib, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2020, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Talib by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Talib 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 | #3334 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4810 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3056 | 33 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Talib
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Talib: questions and answers
How popular is the name Talib in the UK right now?
In 2020, Talib was ranked #3334 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Talib most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 7 babies registered as Talib in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Talib?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "seeker of knowledge" or "student".
How many people are called Talib in the UK?
A total of 41 babies have been registered as Talib across the 9 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.