UK boy's name
Anuar
An Arabic name meaning "radiant" or "luminous".
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.
Anuar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Anuar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 10 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2015 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Anuar. 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
- • Anuar ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 10 boys were registered as Anuar.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anuar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
10 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Anuar mean?
The given name Anuar is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, derived from the root word "nur," which means "light" or "radiance." It is a masculine name that has been in use for centuries across various regions influenced by Arabic culture and Islamic traditions.
The earliest known references to the name Anuar can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was commonly used among Arab populations in the Middle East and North Africa. During this period, the name was often associated with Islamic scholars, poets, and intellectuals who sought enlightenment and wisdom through their pursuits.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Anuar was Anuar al-Andalusi, a renowned Islamic philosopher and scholar who lived in the 12th century in Andalusia, present-day Spain. His works on philosophy, astronomy, and mathematics greatly influenced the intellectual discourse of his time.
In the 13th century, Anuar ibn Ibrahim al-Maliki, a prominent Maliki scholar and jurist from Mecca, made significant contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and legal studies. His writings and teachings were widely respected and studied throughout the Islamic world.
During the Ottoman Empire, the name Anuar gained further prominence. Anuar Pasha, born in 1670, was a distinguished Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) under Sultan Ahmed III in the early 18th century.
In more recent times, Anuar Ibrahim, born in 1936, was a renowned Malaysian politician and diplomat who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1986 to 1993. He played a crucial role in the country's economic and political development during his tenure.
Another notable figure bearing the name Anuar is Anuar Senan, an Egyptian actor and comedian born in 1942. He has had a prolific career in Egyptian cinema and television, entertaining audiences with his comedic talents for over five decades.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Anuar, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the regions they hailed from.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anuar over time
The chart below shows babies named Anuar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 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 Anuar, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anuar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anuar 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 | #4323 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3970 | 24 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Anuar
- 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
Anuar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anuar in the UK right now?
In 2024, Anuar was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anuar most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 10 babies registered as Anuar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anuar?
An Arabic name meaning "radiant" or "luminous".
How many people are called Anuar in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Anuar across the 8 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.