UK boy's name
Waseem
A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome, attractive or good-looking".
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.
Waseem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Waseem 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 1996, with 25 births.
This profile covers 292 England and Wales registrations across 28 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 16% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 298 living people in the UK are called Waseem. 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
- • Waseem ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 25 boys were registered as Waseem.
- • Waseem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #317 in 1986.
- • About 298 living people in the UK are estimated to have Waseem 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
1996
25 births
Estimated living
298
2026
Meaning
What does Waseem mean?
Waseem is an Arabic name derived from the root word 'wasim,' which means 'handsome' or 'beautiful.' The name has its origins in the Middle East and was prevalent in ancient times among Arab tribes and communities. It is believed to have been first used as a name during the pre-Islamic era, although its exact origins are unclear.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Waseem can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. The name was mentioned in several works by renowned poets and writers, who often used it to describe the beauty and charm of their subjects. This suggests that the name was already in use and held significance in the region during that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Waseem. One of the earliest known figures was Waseem Ibn Abi Al-Aswad (born c. 690 CE), a renowned Arabic grammarian and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of the Arabic language. Another prominent figure was Waseem Al-Hamdani (born c. 893 CE), a celebrated Islamic scholar and historian from Yemen.
During the medieval period, Waseem Al-Katib (born c. 1010 CE) was a prominent Arabic calligrapher and poet who served at the court of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. His works were highly acclaimed and sought after for their intricate designs and poetic verses.
In more recent times, Waseem Akram (born 1966) is a famous Pakistani cricketer and former captain of the national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the sport and was instrumental in Pakistan's success during the 1990s.
Another notable figure is Waseem Badami (born 1957), a renowned Pakistani journalist, author, and television host. He has worked extensively in the media industry and has been recognized for his contributions to journalism and literature.
The name Waseem continues to be popular in various parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and among Muslim communities around the world. Its rich history and associations with beauty, literature, and notable figures have contributed to its enduring appeal and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Waseem over time
The chart below shows babies named Waseem 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 Waseem, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waseem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Waseem 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 | #3047 | 27 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2448 | 87 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1722 | 100 | 10 |
| 1990s | #815 | 78 | 4 |
Geography
Where Waseem is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Waseem. 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.
Waseem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #317 in 1986.
Across the UK
Waseem in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#317 in 1986
3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Waseem
- 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
Waseem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Waseem in the UK right now?
In 2024, Waseem was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Waseem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 25 babies registered as Waseem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Waseem?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome, attractive or good-looking".
How many people are called Waseem in the UK?
A total of 292 babies have been registered as Waseem across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Waseem most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Waseem ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #317 in 1986. 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.