Fadil
A boy's name of Arabic origin meaning "virtue" or "excellence".
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the first name Fadil. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fadil today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fadil births was 2014 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fadil. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
143
~ 1 in 2,396,883 Americans
Peak year
2014
10 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,235
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Fadil: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fadil from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 71 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Fadil remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fadil by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Fadil during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Fadil
The name Fadil is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "fadl," which means "grace," "virtue," or "excellence." It is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, as it reflects the Islamic values of righteousness and moral uprightness.
The name Fadil is commonly found in the Arab world, particularly in countries like Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It has also gained popularity in other parts of the world with significant Muslim populations, such as South Asia and parts of Africa.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Fadil can be found in Islamic literature and historical accounts. For instance, there are references to individuals named Fadil in the writings of renowned scholars and poets from the medieval period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fadil. One such individual was Fadil ibn Yahya (died 818 CE), a prominent Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the calculation of planetary movements.
Another renowned person with the name Fadil was Fadil al-Aydarus (1787-1854), a Yemeni scholar and Sufi mystic who played a pivotal role in spreading Islamic teachings and establishing educational institutions in his native country.
In the literary realm, Fadil al-Tawil (1891-1973) was a prominent Palestinian poet and essayist who wrote extensively about the struggles of the Palestinian people and their quest for independence. His works are widely celebrated and have left a lasting impact on Arabic literature.
Fadil Husayn (1888-1949), an Iraqi writer and journalist, was also a prominent figure in the early 20th century. He was known for his advocacy of Arab nationalism and his efforts to promote Arabic language and culture.
Additionally, Fadil al-Qasim (1927-2010) was a renowned Iraqi poet and activist who played a significant role in the Arab nationalist movement. His poetry often reflected themes of resistance, freedom, and social justice, resonating with people across the Arab world.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Fadil throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Arab and Islamic world.
People
Fadil + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fadil as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fadil: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fadil?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 143 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fadil going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,396,883 US residents.
Is Fadil a common name?
We classify Fadil as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 145 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fadil most popular?
The single biggest year for Fadil was 2014, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fadil is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Fadil a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fadil in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.