Waseem
A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome, attractive or good-looking".
Name Census estimates that about 762 living Americans carry the first name Waseem. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Waseem today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Waseem births was 2020 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Waseem. 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
762
~ 1 in 449,809 Americans
Peak year
2020
35 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,143
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Waseem: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Waseem from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 240 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Waseem remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waseem 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 Waseem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Waseems live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. New York, California, Michigan recorded the most babies named Waseem, while Virginia, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Waseem
Waseem is an Arabic name derived from the root word 'wasim,' which means 'handsome' or 'beautiful.' The name has its origins in the Middle East and was prevalent in ancient times among Arab tribes and communities. It is believed to have been first used as a name during the pre-Islamic era, although its exact origins are unclear.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Waseem can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. The name was mentioned in several works by renowned poets and writers, who often used it to describe the beauty and charm of their subjects. This suggests that the name was already in use and held significance in the region during that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Waseem. One of the earliest known figures was Waseem Ibn Abi Al-Aswad (born c. 690 CE), a renowned Arabic grammarian and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of the Arabic language. Another prominent figure was Waseem Al-Hamdani (born c. 893 CE), a celebrated Islamic scholar and historian from Yemen.
During the medieval period, Waseem Al-Katib (born c. 1010 CE) was a prominent Arabic calligrapher and poet who served at the court of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. His works were highly acclaimed and sought after for their intricate designs and poetic verses.
In more recent times, Waseem Akram (born 1966) is a famous Pakistani cricketer and former captain of the national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the sport and was instrumental in Pakistan's success during the 1990s.
Another notable figure is Waseem Badami (born 1957), a renowned Pakistani journalist, author, and television host. He has worked extensively in the media industry and has been recognized for his contributions to journalism and literature.
The name Waseem continues to be popular in various parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and among Muslim communities around the world. Its rich history and associations with beauty, literature, and notable figures have contributed to its enduring appeal and significance.
People
Waseem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Waseem as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Waseem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Waseem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 762 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Waseem 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 449,809 US residents.
Is Waseem a common name?
We classify Waseem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 775 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Waseem most popular?
The single biggest year for Waseem was 2020, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Waseem is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Waseem a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Waseem 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.