NameCensus.

UK surname

Naim

A surname originating from the Arabic meaning "delightful" or "pleasant".

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Naim surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Woodlands, Barking and Dagenham and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Naim is 234 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5750.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

2016

234 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Naim had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Naim surname distribution map

The map shows where the Naim surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Naim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Naim over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 4 #32,658
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 19 #32,642
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 202 #18,896
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Naims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Woodlands, Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Coupar Angus and Meigle and Redbridge. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Woodlands Glasgow City
2 Barking and Dagenham 019 Barking and Dagenham
3 Enfield 013 Enfield
4 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
5 Redbridge 030 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Naim

These lists show first names that appear often with the Naim surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Naim

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Naim, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Naim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Naim household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Naim is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Naim is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Naim falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Naim is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Naim, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Naim

The surname Naim has its origins in the Arabic world, specifically in regions where Arabic is the predominant language. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries.

The name Naim is derived from the Arabic word "na'im," which means "pleasant," "delightful," or "blissful." It was likely originally used as a descriptive name or a nickname for someone who possessed a pleasant demeanor or lived in a delightful place.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Naim can be found in Arabic manuscripts and historical texts from the 9th century. These documents often referred to individuals or families who bore this surname, suggesting its widespread use during that time.

In the 11th century, the name Naim appeared in records from the Fatimid Caliphate, which ruled over parts of North Africa and the Middle East. This indicates that the name was prevalent in those regions and may have been associated with notable individuals or families from that era.

During the 13th century, the surname Naim was documented in the writings of renowned Arab scholars and historians, such as Ibn Khaldun. This further solidifies its longstanding presence in the Arabic-speaking world.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Naim, including:

1. Abu al-Qasim al-Naim (d. 1050), a prominent mathematician and astronomer from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). 2. Ibn al-Naim (1174-1248), an influential Sunni scholar and author from Damascus, Syria. 3. Muhammad al-Naim (1856-1933), a renowned Sudanese poet and religious scholar. 4. Mustafa Naim (1916-1988), an Egyptian actor and film director known for his contributions to the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema. 5. Samir Naim (born 1943), a Syrian poet and playwright who has received numerous literary awards.

The surname Naim has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout the Arab world, such as the town of Naim in Lebanon and the village of Naim in Palestine. These place names may have influenced the adoption and spread of the surname in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Naim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Naim surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 4 Naims recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.15x.

County Total Index
Essex 4 52.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 4 Naims recorded in 1881 and an index of 2857.14x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 4 2857.14x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Naim surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Hannah 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Naim surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 1
Percy 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Naim households.

FAQ

Naim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Naim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Naim surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Naim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Naim a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Naim surname mean?

A surname originating from the Arabic meaning "delightful" or "pleasant".

What does the Naim map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Naim bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.