Fadwa
A feminine Arabic name meaning "precious" or "jewel".
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Fadwa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Fadwa today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fadwa births was 2008 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fadwa. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Fadwa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
2008
7 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2008 SSA rank
#14,323
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Fadwa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fadwa from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fadwa 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 Fadwa 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 Fadwa
The name Fadwa is of Arabic origin, deriving from the root word "fadha," which means "precious" or "valuable" in the Arabic language. This name has been widely used in the Arabic-speaking world for centuries, particularly in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.
Fadwa is believed to have gained popularity during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of remarkable cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievements in the Arab world, spanning from the 8th to the 13th century. The name's association with preciousness and value may have been influenced by the flourishing of knowledge and arts during this era.
While the name Fadwa is not explicitly mentioned in religious scriptures or ancient texts, it is possible that its roots can be traced back to the Pre-Islamic era, as the Arabic language has a rich literary tradition that predates the advent of Islam.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Fadwa can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher, Abu Al-Ala Al-Maari (973-1057 CE), who mentioned a woman named Fadwa in one of his poems. This suggests that the name was in use during the 11th century in the region of present-day Syria.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Fadwa. One such figure is Fadwa Touqan (1917-2003), a renowned Palestinian poet and author, who played a significant role in the Palestinian literary movement of the 20th century.
Another prominent figure is Fadwa Soliman (1936-1976), an Egyptian actress and singer who gained immense popularity for her performances in Egyptian cinema and on stage during the mid-20th century.
Fadwa Qaddura (1930-2019) was a Syrian writer and novelist, known for her influential works that explored the complexities of women's lives and societal issues in the Arab world.
Fadwa Mahmoud (1938-2022) was an Egyptian actress and dancer, celebrated for her performances in various Egyptian films and television series throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
Fadwa Suleiman (1945-present) is an influential Syrian-born actress and director, who has made significant contributions to the Arabic theater and cinema, particularly in her portrayals of strong female characters.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Fadwa throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance within the Arabic-speaking world.
People
Fadwa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fadwa 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
Fadwa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fadwa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fadwa 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 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Fadwa a common name?
We classify Fadwa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 17 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fadwa most popular?
The single biggest year for Fadwa was 2008, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fadwa is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Fadwa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fadwa in the SSA data are female. 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.