NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Araf

An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "araf" meaning "knowledge".

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.

Araf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Araf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 16 births.

This profile covers 74 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2009 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 74 living people in the UK are called Araf. 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

  • Araf ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 16 boys were registered as Araf.
  • About 74 living people in the UK are estimated to have Araf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3254

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2023

16 births

Estimated living

74

2026

Meaning

What does Araf mean?

The name Araf has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the Islamic cultures of the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "Araf," which means "to know" or "to recognize." The name is believed to have emerged during the early centuries of Islam, around the 7th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Araf can be found in the Quran, the sacred text of Islam. In Surah Al-A'raf, the seventh chapter of the Quran, the term "Araf" is used to describe a elevated place or a partition between Paradise and Hell. This association with the Quranic verse may have influenced the naming traditions within Islamic communities.

The first known historical figure bearing the name Araf was Araf bin Al-Harith, a prominent Arab poet who lived in the 6th century AD. He was renowned for his eloquence and his works have been preserved in various literary anthologies of the time. Another notable figure was Araf Al-Qurashi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 9th century AD and made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence.

In the 11th century, Araf Al-Kindi, an influential Arab philosopher and scientist, gained recognition for his works in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. He was a student of the renowned scholar Al-Kindi and played a crucial role in the translation and preservation of ancient Greek texts.

During the 13th century, Araf Al-Masri, an Egyptian astronomer and mathematician, made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the development of astronomical instruments. His works were widely influential in the Islamic world and beyond.

In more recent times, Araf Karimi, an Afghan politician and diplomat, served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Afghanistan from 2010 to 2019. He played a pivotal role in international diplomacy and represented Afghanistan on various global platforms.

While the name Araf has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has since been adopted and used across various regions and communities around the world. Its meaning and historical significance continue to resonate with those who bear this name, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the origins of Islamic civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Araf over time

The chart below shows babies named Araf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 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 Araf, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Araf
0481216200920162024

Decades

Araf by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Araf 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 #2634 36 4
2010s #3814 35 8
2000s #4527 3 1

Related

Names similar to Araf

FAQ

Araf: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Araf was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Araf most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 16 babies registered as Araf in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Araf?

An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "araf" meaning "knowledge".

How many people are called Araf in the UK?

A total of 74 babies have been registered as Araf across the 13 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.