UK boy's name
Akif
From the Arabic language, meaning wise or intelligent.
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.
Akif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Akif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 12 births.
This profile covers 163 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 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.
The latest count is about 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 162 living people in the UK are called Akif. 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
- • Akif ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 12 boys were registered as Akif.
- • About 162 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2001
12 births
Estimated living
162
2026
Meaning
What does Akif mean?
The name Akif has its origins in Arabic and is derived from the root word "aqafa," which means "to understand" or "to comprehend." It is believed to have emerged during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century AD, in the Arabian Peninsula.
The name Akif gained popularity among the Arabs and subsequently spread to various regions influenced by Islamic culture and traditions. It was particularly prevalent in areas such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Central Asia.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Akif can be found in the works of renowned Arabic poets and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries AD. The name was often associated with individuals who possessed a deep understanding of literature, philosophy, and religious teachings.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Akif. One of the most prominent was the Turkish poet and writer Mehmet Akif Ersoy (1873-1936), who is widely regarded as the national poet of Turkey. His masterpiece, the "Istiklal Marsi" (Independence March), became the national anthem of the Republic of Turkey.
Another renowned figure was Akif Pasha (1831-1907), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1896 to 1897. He played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the region during the late 19th century.
In the realm of Islamic scholarship, Akif ibn Ali al-Muhandis (d. 1083) was a prominent mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and is credited with developing advanced techniques for solving algebraic equations.
Akif Pirincci (born 1959) is a contemporary German author and novelist of Turkish descent. He is known for his controversial and provocative writings, which often explore themes of identity, immigration, and social issues.
Akif Manaf (1936-2020) was an Indonesian actor and singer who gained widespread recognition for his roles in numerous films and television series throughout his career, which spanned several decades.
The name Akif has maintained its presence and significance within various cultural and linguistic contexts, reflecting its deep-rooted historical connections and the influence of Arabic language and Islamic traditions on naming practices across different regions of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Akif over time
The chart below shows babies named Akif registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Akif, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Akif by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akif 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 | #4201 | 16 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3033 | 67 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2233 | 63 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2410 | 17 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Akif
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Akif: questions and answers
How popular is the name Akif in the UK right now?
In 2024, Akif was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Akif most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 12 babies registered as Akif in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Akif?
From the Arabic language, meaning wise or intelligent.
How many people are called Akif in the UK?
A total of 163 babies have been registered as Akif 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.