UK boy's name
Wahab
An Arabic masculine name meaning "gift" or "present from God".
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.
Wahab is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Wahab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 9 births.
This profile covers 90 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1997 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 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 89 living people in the UK are called Wahab. 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
- • Wahab ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 9 boys were registered as Wahab.
- • About 89 living people in the UK are estimated to have Wahab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
9 births
Estimated living
89
2026
Meaning
What does Wahab mean?
The name Wahab is derived from the Arabic word "wahaba," which means "to bestow" or "to grant." It is a name with deep roots in the Islamic tradition and has been in use for centuries in various parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Wahab can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. One of his companions was known as Wahab ibn Munabbih, who was born in Yemen around 635 CE and was renowned for his knowledge of the scriptures and his contributions to the spread of Islam.
Another notable figure in Islamic history with the name Wahab was Wahab ibn Munabbih, a scholar and historian who lived in the 7th century CE. He is credited with compiling one of the earliest known works on the history of the world, which included stories from various religious traditions, including Judaism and Christianity.
In the 9th century CE, Wahab ibn Ibrahim al-Marwazi was a prominent Islamic scholar and linguist from Marw, in present-day Turkmenistan. He was known for his contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and his works on the interpretation of the Quran.
During the 12th century, Wahab ibn Munabbih al-Andalusi was a renowned Andalusian scholar and poet who lived in Cordoba, Spain. He was celebrated for his mastery of various disciplines, including poetry, grammar, and Islamic jurisprudence.
Another notable figure with the name Wahab was Wahab ibn Munabbih al-Dimashqi, a Syrian historian who lived in the 13th century CE. He authored several works on the history of Syria and the biographies of notable figures from the region.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Wahab, but it has remained a popular name among Muslims throughout the centuries, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the Islamic faith and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Wahab over time
The chart below shows babies named Wahab registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Wahab, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wahab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Wahab 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 | #4189 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3452 | 46 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2713 | 29 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2642 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Wahab
- William 117,982
- Wilfred 5,302
- Will 3,185
- Warren 2,787
- Wyatt 2,604
- Wesley 2,513
- Woody 1,951
- Walter 1,918
- Wiktor 1,354
- Wayne 979
- Wilbur 975
- Wade 902
FAQ
Wahab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Wahab in the UK right now?
In 2024, Wahab was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Wahab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 9 babies registered as Wahab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Wahab?
An Arabic masculine name meaning "gift" or "present from God".
How many people are called Wahab in the UK?
A total of 90 babies have been registered as Wahab across the 18 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.