UK boy's name
Arfaan
Derived from Arabic, it denotes a person blessed with knowledge or wisdom.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arfaan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arfaan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2017 to 2022. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Arfaan. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arfaan ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 boys were registered as Arfaan.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arfaan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Arfaan mean?
The name Arfaan is of Arabic origin and is derived from the root word "arfan," which means "bright" or "shining." It is a relatively uncommon name and its earliest recorded use dates back to the 7th century during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
One of the earliest known references to the name Arfaan can be found in the works of the renowned Arab scholar and poet Al-Farazdaq, who lived in the 7th century. In one of his poems, he mentions a person named Arfaan, describing him as a wise and learned individual.
During the medieval period, the name Arfaan was occasionally used among the Arab nobility and intellectual circles. One notable figure bearing this name was Arfaan ibn Abi Al-Hasan Al-Basri, a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian who lived in the 9th century. He was known for his expertise in Quranic exegesis and hadith studies.
In the 12th century, there was a famous Sufi mystic named Arfaan Al-Baghdadi, who hailed from Baghdad and was renowned for his spiritual teachings and poetic writings. His works have been studied and revered by Sufi orders throughout the centuries.
Another historical figure with the name Arfaan was Arfaan Al-Andalusi, a celebrated mathematician and astronomer from the Iberian Peninsula during the 10th century. His contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the field of algebra, were significant and influential.
In more recent times, one notable individual with the name Arfaan was Arfaan Ahmad Khan, an Indian Muslim scholar and writer who lived in the 19th century. He was known for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts in promoting education among the Muslim community in British India.
While the name Arfaan has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has also been adopted by other communities around the world, particularly in regions with significant Muslim populations. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name, cherished for its rich historical and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arfaan over time
The chart below shows babies named Arfaan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arfaan, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arfaan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arfaan 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4812 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Arfaan
- 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
Arfaan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arfaan in the UK right now?
In 2022, Arfaan was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Arfaan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Arfaan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arfaan?
Derived from Arabic, it denotes a person blessed with knowledge or wisdom.
How many people are called Arfaan in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Arfaan across the 2 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.