Ibrahim is a name of Arabic origin, meaning "he who brings forth many people" or "the father of many." It is derived from the Semitic root verb "hrb," which means to bring forth or to cultivate.
In Islamic tradition, Ibrahim is considered one of the prophets and was the patriarch of the Arab people. According to the Quran, he was born into a family of idol worshippers but eventually turned against their beliefs and became a monotheist. He is revered by Muslims as the father of the prophets Ishmael and Isaac.
The name Ibrahim has been used throughout history in various cultures and languages. In Arabic, it is often transcribed as "Ibrāhīm." In Hebrew, it appears as "Abraham," while in English-speaking countries, it is commonly spelled "Ibrahim."
Today, Ibrahim remains a popular name for boys, particularly among Muslim communities around the world. It has also been adopted by non-Muslims due to its cultural significance and positive associations with leadership, wisdom, and faith.
In recent years, several notable individuals have borne this name, such as former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan, and French footballer Ibrahimović Zlatan. These figures demonstrate the enduring appeal of the name Ibrahim across diverse backgrounds and cultures.
The name Ibrahim has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past six decades. Initially starting with only five births per year in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it began to gain traction in the mid-1970s, reaching its first peak of 40 births in 1975. Since then, there has been a steady increase in popularity, with notable spikes occurring around the turn of the century (284 births in 2002) and continuing into the 2010s (816 births in 2016). The most recent data from 2023 shows that Ibrahim is still popular, with 774 births recorded. Overall, since 1954, there have been a total of 16,041 births registered under the name Ibrahim.