The first name Islam
A unisex name meaning “submission”, “surrender”.
Pronounced /ˈɪs.lɑːm/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Islam means “submission”, “surrender”.
From Arabic إِسْلَام (ʔislām, “submission, surrender”), verbal noun of أَسْلَمَ (ʔaslama). First attested in 1610.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 11 boys were named Islam, making it the 2,133rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2003, with 16 births (#1,092).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Islam with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Islam at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 25 boys born in the United States were named Islam, the 4,181st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 33 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Islam in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Islam in French, German, Indonesian, Tagalog and Welsh too.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Islaam
- Eslam
Famous people named Islam
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Islam Karimov1st President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (1938–2016)
- Islam SlimaniAlgerian association football player, born 1988
- Islam BibiAfghan human rights activist, 1974–2013
- Islam DudaevAlbanian wrestler, born 1995
- Islam AbbasovAzerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler, born 1996
- Islam El ShehabyEgyptian judoka, born 1982
- İslam AbdullayevAzerbaijani musician, 1876–1964
Questions
- What does the name Islam mean?
- Islam means “submission”, “surrender”.
- How popular is the name Islam?
- In 2025, 11 boys born in England and Wales were named Islam, ranking 2,133rd. Its peak was 2003, with 16 births.
- Is Islam a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 817 US babies named Islam since 1880, 16% were girls and 84% boys.
- When was Islam most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 33 babies were named Islam, its highest rank at 3,484th.
- How do you pronounce Islam?
- Islam is /ˈɪs.lɑːm/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Islam?
- Islaam and Eslam.
- Is Islam also a surname?
- Yes. Islam is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.