NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Aakif

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who stays up late at night in prayer".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Aakif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aakif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 7 births.

This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2014 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Aakif. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Aakif ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 7 boys were registered as Aakif.
  • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aakif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4991

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2015

7 births

Estimated living

28

2026

Meaning

What does Aakif mean?

The name Aakif has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word 'aqif,' which means 'understanding' or 'knowledgeable.' The name has been in use for centuries, particularly among Muslim communities.

Historically, the name Aakif first appeared in various Arabic texts and literature dating back to the medieval period. However, it is not directly associated with any specific religious scriptures or ancient texts. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 8th and 9th centuries CE.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Aakif. One of the earliest recorded examples is Aakif al-Baghdadi, an Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 9th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and poetry.

Another prominent figure with the name Aakif was Aakif Khan, a famous Mughal-era architect and calligrapher from the 17th century CE. He is best known for his architectural works, including the construction of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.

In the 19th century, Aakif Ali Khan was a renowned Indian poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh. He was celebrated for his literary works, particularly his Urdu poetry and his contributions to the Urdu language.

Moving into the 20th century, Aakif Sayeed was an influential Pakistani writer and journalist who played a significant role in the country's literary and cultural scene during the mid-1900s.

More recently, Aakif Majeed is a contemporary Pakistani cricket player who has represented the national team in various international tournaments since the early 2000s.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Aakif. The name has maintained its significance and popularity, particularly within Arabic and Muslim communities, reflecting its cultural and linguistic heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Aakif over time

The chart below shows babies named Aakif registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Aakif, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Aakif
02457201420182023

Decades

Aakif by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aakif was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4590 10 3
2010s #3900 18 4

Related

Names similar to Aakif

FAQ

Aakif: questions and answers

How popular is the name Aakif in the UK right now?

In 2023, Aakif was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Aakif most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 7 babies registered as Aakif in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Aakif?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who stays up late at night in prayer".

How many people are called Aakif in the UK?

A total of 28 babies have been registered as Aakif across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.