UK boy's name
Waqas
An Arabic masculine name meaning "dignified" or "respectable".
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.
Waqas is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Waqas popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 41 births.
This profile covers 231 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 7% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 237 living people in the UK are called Waqas. 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
- • Waqas ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 41 boys were registered as Waqas.
- • Waqas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #375 in 1994.
- • About 237 living people in the UK are estimated to have Waqas as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
41 births
Estimated living
237
2026
Meaning
What does Waqas mean?
The name Waqas is of Arabic origin, derived from the Arabic word "waqas," meaning "dignity" or "honor." It is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD, in the Arabian Peninsula.
Historically, the name Waqas was used primarily by Arabic-speaking communities in the Middle East and North Africa. It gained popularity among Muslims, who often chose names with deep religious or cultural significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waqas can be found in the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. These texts mention individuals bearing the name, suggesting its usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Waqas. One prominent example is Waqas Al-Ghamidi (1020-1095), a renowned Muslim scholar and jurist from the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Cordoba, Spain, and made significant contributions to the development of Islamic law.
Another influential figure was Waqas Ibn Musa (790-857), an Arab mathematician and engineer who lived during the Islamic Golden Age. He is celebrated for his work on the construction of water clocks and his contributions to the field of mechanics.
In the literary realm, Waqas Al-Kindi (801-873), an Arab philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, left a lasting legacy. He is considered one of the first great philosophers of the Islamic world and played a crucial role in introducing Greek philosophy to the Arab world.
Moving to more recent times, Waqas Ali Khan (1828-1898) was a prominent ruler of the Princely State of Tonk in British India. He is remembered for his progressive policies and efforts to modernize his state.
Lastly, Waqas Ahmed (1971-present) is a contemporary Pakistani cricketer who represented the national team in Test and One Day International matches. He is recognized for his contributions to Pakistan's cricket success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Waqas throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields, from religion and philosophy to science, politics, and sports.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Waqas over time
The chart below shows babies named Waqas 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 Waqas, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 41 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waqas by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Waqas 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3362 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #2220 | 105 | 10 |
| 1990s | #629 | 118 | 4 |
Geography
Where Waqas is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Waqas. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Waqas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #375 in 1994.
Across the UK
Waqas in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#375 in 1994
3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Waqas
- 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
Waqas: questions and answers
How popular is the name Waqas in the UK right now?
In 2024, Waqas was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Waqas most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 41 babies registered as Waqas in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Waqas?
An Arabic masculine name meaning "dignified" or "respectable".
How many people are called Waqas in the UK?
A total of 231 babies have been registered as Waqas across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Waqas most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Waqas ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #375 in 1994. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.