NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Arshad

Of Arabic origin, meaning "rightly guided" or "righteous".

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.

Arshad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arshad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 8 births.

This profile covers 111 England and Wales registrations across 23 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 110 living people in the UK are called Arshad. 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

  • Arshad ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 8 boys were registered as Arshad.
  • About 110 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arshad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2671

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

1996

8 births

Estimated living

110

2026

Meaning

What does Arshad mean?

The name Arshad has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "rashada," which means "guidance" or "righteousness." The name first appeared during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.

Arshad was a name given to individuals who were believed to possess qualities of wisdom, integrity, and leadership. In Islamic tradition, Arshad is considered a virtuous name, often associated with those who guide others towards the path of righteousness and truth.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Arshad can be found in the historical records of the Umayyad Caliphate, which ruled over a vast area of the Middle East and North Africa from the 7th to the 8th century CE. During this period, several prominent figures bore the name Arshad, serving as scholars, judges, and advisors to the caliphs.

Throughout history, the name Arshad has been carried by numerous notable individuals. One such figure was Arshad al-Kindi, a renowned Arab philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 9th century CE. He made significant contributions to the fields of optics and metaphysics, and his works were widely studied in the Islamic world.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Arshad al-Dawla, a powerful ruler of the Buwayhid dynasty, who governed parts of present-day Iran and Iraq during the 10th and 11th centuries CE. He was known for his patronage of arts, literature, and sciences, and his court attracted many scholars and intellectuals.

In the 12th century CE, Arshad al-Din, a renowned Persian poet and mystic, gained recognition for his profound spiritual poetry and his contributions to the Sufi tradition. His works continue to be celebrated and studied by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike.

More recently, Arshad Khan, a Pakistani-British actor and model, gained international fame for his striking appearance and his role in a popular Pakistani television series in the early 2010s.

Another notable figure was Arshad Warsi, an Indian actor known for his comedic roles in Bollywood films. Born in 1968, Warsi has received several accolades for his performances and has become a household name in Indian cinema.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Arshad over time

The chart below shows babies named Arshad 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 Arshad, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Arshad
02468199620102024

Decades

Arshad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arshad 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 #3795 15 3
2010s #4231 29 8
2000s #2785 41 8
1990s #1766 26 4

Related

Names similar to Arshad

FAQ

Arshad: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Arshad was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Arshad most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 8 babies registered as Arshad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Arshad?

Of Arabic origin, meaning "rightly guided" or "righteous".

How many people are called Arshad in the UK?

A total of 111 babies have been registered as Arshad across the 23 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.