NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Afnan

Arabic origin meaning "branches", "twigs", or "young shoots".

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 110 boys.

Afnan is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Afnan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1541, with 20 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 20 births.

This profile covers 290 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. 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.

Afnan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 289 living people in the UK are called Afnan. 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

  • Afnan ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 20 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 20 girls were registered as Afnan.
  • Afnan is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 289 living people in the UK are estimated to have Afnan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.5% of Afnan registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1541

2024

Births in 2024

20

Latest year

Peak year

2024

20 births

Estimated living

289

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Afnan

In England and Wales birth records, Afnan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.5% of registrations are for boys and 72.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

28% boys
73% girls
Boys110 (27.5%)Girls290 (72.5%)

Afnan registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,088 in 2024
  • 11 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (11 births)

Afnan registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,541 in 2024
  • 20 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (20 births)

Meaning

What does Afnan mean?

The name Afnan has its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "afnan," which means "branches" or "twigs." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the areas where Arabic is spoken, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Levant.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Afnan can be found in classical Arabic literature, where it was used as a metaphor to describe the beauty and elegance of a person's character or appearance. The name was often associated with qualities such as growth, resilience, and the ability to thrive in challenging environments, much like the branches of a tree.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Afnan. One of the earliest recorded examples is Afnan al-Baghdadi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Baghdad during the 11th century. He was known for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to the field of Sharia law.

Another notable figure with the name Afnan was Afnan al-Dimashqi, a Syrian poet and writer who lived in the 17th century. He was celebrated for his mastery of the Arabic language and his poetic compositions, which explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience.

In the 19th century, Afnan al-Kabir was a prominent intellectual and reformer from Lebanon. He was a strong advocate for education and played a crucial role in establishing modern schools and universities in the region. His efforts paved the way for the advancement of knowledge and intellectual discourse in the Arab world.

In more recent times, Afnan Al-Qasem was a Palestinian poet and activist who lived from 1926 to 2005. She was known for her powerful poetry that reflected the struggles and aspirations of the Palestinian people, and her works have been widely celebrated and translated into multiple languages.

Another notable figure with the name Afnan was Afnan Ullah Khan, a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a talented all-rounder and played a significant role in Pakistan's cricketing achievements during that era.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Afnan. The name continues to be used across various cultures and regions, carrying with it a rich heritage and symbolic meaning rooted in the Arabic language and tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Afnan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Afnan in England and Wales, from 1997 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 Afnan, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 20 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
08162331199720102024

Decades

Afnan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Afnan 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 #1771 82 5
2010s #2280 122 10
2000s #2765 75 10
1990s #2682 11 2

Related

Names similar to Afnan

FAQ

Afnan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Afnan was ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales, with 20 births registered.

When was Afnan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 20 babies registered as Afnan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Afnan?

Arabic origin meaning "branches", "twigs", or "young shoots".

How many people are called Afnan in the UK?

A total of 290 babies have been registered as Afnan across the 27 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.