Find out how popular the last name Nadim is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nadim.

Nadim, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Nadim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nadim in America

Nadim is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nadim surname appeared 125 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nadim.

The history of the last name Nadim

The surname Nadim originated in the Arabic-speaking world during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "nadim," which means "a close friend" or "a companion." The name was likely adopted as a nickname or honorific title for someone who was known for their affable and sociable nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Nadim can be traced back to the 9th century CE in various Arabic manuscripts and records. One notable historical figure bearing this name was Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani (897-967 CE), a renowned Arab scholar, poet, and author from Baghdad, who wrote the influential work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs).

In the 11th century, the name Nadim appeared in the famous Arabic literary work "Qabusnameh" by Unsur al-Ma'ali Kaykavus, a prince from the Ziyarid dynasty of Iran. The work mentions a certain "Abu Nasr Nadim," who was a vizier and close companion to the prince.

During the 12th century, the surname Nadim gained prominence in various regions of the Islamic world, including Persia (modern-day Iran) and the Levant (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine). One notable figure from this period was Jamal al-Din al-Nadim (1145-1218 CE), a renowned poet and scholar from Mosul, Iraq.

The name Nadim also appeared in historical records from the Ottoman Empire, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries. One example is Mustafa Nadim Pasha (1598-1674), an Ottoman statesman and grand vizier who served under Sultan Mehmed IV.

Another notable figure with the surname Nadim was Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib (1797-1869), a famous Urdu and Persian poet from the Indian subcontinent. He was widely known by his pen name "Ghalib," but his full name was Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib Nadim.

As the surname Nadim spread across various regions, it underwent minor spelling variations, such as Nadeem, Naddim, or Naddeem, but the core meaning and origin remained the same.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nadim

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nadim.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nadim was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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