Hiba
A feminine Arabic name meaning "gift" or "present".
Name Census estimates that about 2,014 living Americans carry the first name Hiba. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hiba today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hiba births was 2023 (94 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hiba. 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
- • Hiba is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
2.0K
~ 1 in 170,186 Americans
Peak year
2023
94 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,308
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Hiba: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hiba from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 656 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Hiba remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hiba 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 Hiba during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hibas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. New York, California, Illinois recorded the most babies named Hiba, while North Carolina, Maryland, Washington recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 70 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hiba
The name Hiba originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Semitic linguistic family. It is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic period in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
Hiba finds its origins in the Arabic word "hibah," which translates to "gift" or "present." This connection suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon children as a symbolic gesture, representing them as a gift or blessing from the divine.
In Islamic tradition, the name Hiba holds significance as it appears in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. It is mentioned in reference to the concept of giving or offering, further solidifying its association with the notion of a gift.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hiba can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when a prominent female companion of the Prophet Muhammad, known as Hiba bint Abi Balta, lived during the early days of Islam.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hiba. Hiba al-Lughawi (1019-1109 CE) was a renowned Arabic philologist and lexicographer from Andalusia, known for her contributions to the study of the Arabic language and literature.
Hiba Tawaji (1934-1982) was a celebrated Lebanese singer and actress, renowned for her powerful vocals and captivating performances in the mid-20th century.
Hiba Abouk (born 1976) is a contemporary French-Tunisian actress and model, who has graced both the big screen and fashion runways with her talent and beauty.
Hiba Jamal (born 1988) is a Palestinian-American writer and activist, known for her advocacy for human rights and her work in promoting awareness about the Palestinian cause.
Hiba Bukhari (born 1990) is a Pakistani fashion designer and entrepreneur, recognized for her innovative and culturally-inspired clothing designs that blend traditional and contemporary elements.
These examples demonstrate the enduring presence of the name Hiba across various cultures, time periods, and fields, reflecting its rich historical significance and the diverse individuals who have carried this name throughout the ages.
People
Hiba + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hiba as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hiba: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hiba?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,014 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hiba 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 170,186 US residents.
Is Hiba a common name?
We classify Hiba as "Rare". It ranks above 93.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,044 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hiba most popular?
The single biggest year for Hiba was 2023, when 94 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hiba is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hiba a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hiba 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.