NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Affan

A masculine Arabic name meaning "precious" or "valuable".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Affan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Affan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 36 births.

This profile covers 415 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 416 living people in the UK are called Affan. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Affan ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 36 boys were registered as Affan.
  • Affan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
  • About 416 living people in the UK are estimated to have Affan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1460

2024

Births in 2024

18

Latest year

Peak year

2017

36 births

Estimated living

416

2026

Meaning

What does Affan mean?

The given name Affan has its origins in Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "affan," which means "to bestow" or "to provide." The name is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE, when Arabic names were becoming more widespread in the Middle East and North Africa.

Affan is a masculine name that has been historically associated with generosity, kindness, and hospitality. In the early days of Islam, the name was often given to individuals who were known for their charitable acts or their willingness to provide for others.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Affan can be found in Islamic literature, specifically in the hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). According to some sources, there was a Companion of the Prophet named Affan ibn Muslim, who lived during the 7th century CE and was known for his piety and devotion to the faith.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Affan. One of the most prominent was Affan ibn Qays, a renowned Arab poet who lived in the 6th century CE and is considered one of the giants of pre-Islamic Arabic poetry. His poetic works were widely celebrated and have been preserved in various anthologies.

Another famous Affan was Affan al-Khafaji, an Iraqi scholar and poet who lived in the 17th century CE (1009-1068 AH). He was renowned for his expertise in various fields, including grammar, rhetoric, and jurisprudence, and authored several influential works on these subjects.

In the modern era, one of the most well-known individuals with the name Affan was Affan Sabet, an Egyptian actor and filmmaker who lived from 1924 to 1983. He was a pioneer of Egyptian cinema and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the industry's history.

Another notable Affan was Affan Qutaish, a Syrian diplomat and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Syria from 1954 to 1955. He played a significant role in the country's post-independence political landscape and was involved in various regional and international negotiations.

Lastly, Affan Dhawlikar is a contemporary Indian actor and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. He gained recognition for his roles in popular productions such as "Kaun Banega Crorepati" and "Rab Se Sohna Isshq."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Affan over time

The chart below shows babies named Affan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Affan, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Affan
09182736200120122024

Decades

Affan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Affan 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 #1236 116 5
2010s #1147 249 10
2000s #2228 50 6

Geography

Where Affan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Affan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Affan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Affan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Affan

FAQ

Affan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Affan was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.

When was Affan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 36 babies registered as Affan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Affan?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "precious" or "valuable".

How many people are called Affan in the UK?

A total of 415 babies have been registered as Affan across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Affan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Affan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.