NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Anwar

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "radiance" or "light".

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.

Anwar is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Anwar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1595, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 32 births.

This profile covers 459 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 456 living people in the UK are called Anwar. 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

  • Anwar ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 32 boys were registered as Anwar.
  • About 456 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anwar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.4% of Anwar registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1595

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2006

32 births

Estimated living

456

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Anwar

In England and Wales birth records, Anwar has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.4% of registrations are for boys and 0.6% 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.

99% boys
Boys459 (99.4%)Girls3 (0.6%)

Anwar registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,595 in 2024
  • 16 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2006 (32 births)

Anwar registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,795 in 1996
  • 3 girls registered in 1996
  • Peak: 1996 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Anwar mean?

The name Anwar traces its origins to the Arabic language and culture. Derived from the Arabic word "anwār," meaning "lights" or "radiance," it is a name that carries connotations of brightness and illumination. The name's roots can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam and the spread of Arabic-speaking cultures across the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Anwar can be found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. The word "anwār" appears several times in the Quran, often in reference to the divine light or guidance. This association with light and spiritual enlightenment likely contributed to the name's popularity among Muslim communities.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Anwar. One of the earliest was Anwar ibn al-Walid (634-704 CE), a renowned Arab general and military commander who played a crucial role in the early Muslim conquests. Another prominent bearer of the name was Anwar al-Sadat (1918-1981), the former President of Egypt who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 for his efforts in establishing peace between Egypt and Israel.

In the realm of literature, Anwar Masood (1923-2005) was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, earning him widespread acclaim. Anwar Shamim (1931-2017), an Indian writer and journalist, was known for his contributions to Urdu literature and his efforts in promoting secularism and religious harmony.

The name Anwar has also been associated with notable figures in the field of science and technology. Anwar Ali (1910-1992) was a Pakistani physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the study of cosmic rays and particle physics. Anwar El Sadat (1949-2009), an Egyptian scientist and engineer, played a vital role in the development of Egypt's space program and the launch of its first satellite.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Anwar. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Arabic language and Islamic culture, its meaning and significance have transcended boundaries, making it a name that resonates across various cultures and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Anwar over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Anwar in England and Wales, 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 Anwar, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
08162432199620102024

Decades

Anwar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anwar 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 #1659 74 5
2010s #1573 157 10
2000s #1192 172 10
1990s #1031 56 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Anwar

  • Anwar Uddin

    association football player

    English footballer (born 1981)

    1981-

  • Anwar Choudhury

    governor; diplomat

    British diplomat and governor

    1959-

  • Anwar Hamed

    journalist

    Palestinian writer

    1957-

  • Anwar Pervez

    entrepreneur

    Pakistani-British businessman

    1935-

  • Anwar Shaikh

    writer

    British Pakistani writer

    1928-2006

Related

Names similar to Anwar

FAQ

Anwar: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Anwar was ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Anwar most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 32 babies registered as Anwar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Anwar?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "radiance" or "light".

How many people are called Anwar in the UK?

A total of 459 babies have been registered as Anwar across the 29 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.