Iqbal first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Iqbal has been for the last 11 years (from 1990 to 2000) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Iqbal

A masculine Arabic name meaning "prosperity" or "abundance".

Popularity of Iqbal by gender

Based on the last 11 years of data, Iqbal is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2000, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Iqbal.

Year Male Count Female Count
2000 5 0
1996 6 0
1994 9 0
1992 5 0
1991 5 0
1990 5 0

The history of the first name Iqbal

The name Iqbal is a Persian name derived from the Arabic word "iqbal" meaning "prosperity" or "good fortune". It has been a popular name in the Persian and Islamic cultures for centuries.

The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the 7th century, during the Islamic Golden Age. It was a common name among poets, scholars, and intellectuals of that era.

One of the most famous individuals to bear this name was Iqbal, the renowned poet and philosopher from British India, who lived from 1877 to 1938. He is considered the spiritual father of Pakistan and his poetry played a significant role in the Pakistani independence movement.

Another notable figure was Sir Muhammad Iqbal, a British-Indian philosopher and politician who served as the President of the Muslim League from 1930 to 1934. He was a strong advocate for the creation of a separate Muslim state in the Indian subcontinent.

In the realm of literature, Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani activist who campaigned against child labor. He was murdered in 1995 at the age of 12, but his bravery and dedication to the cause left a lasting impact.

Iqbal Khan was a prominent Bangladeshi writer and novelist, known for his works that explored the complexities of life in post-colonial Bangladesh. He was born in 1924 and passed away in 1977.

Iqbal Theba is a Pakistani-American actor best known for his role as Principal Wilcox in the television series "Glee". He has also appeared in several films and TV shows, including "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "The Goldbergs".

The name Iqbal has also been found in various Islamic texts and religious scripts, further solidifying its significance in the Islamic world. It continues to be a popular choice for newborns in many Muslim communities, carrying the connotation of prosperity and good fortune.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Iqbal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Iqbal, please contact us.

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"Iqbal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 13, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/iqbal-meaning-and-history/.

"Iqbal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/iqbal-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 May, 2025

Iqbal first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/iqbal-meaning-and-history/.

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