NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ashraf

Of Arabic origin, meaning "the most honorable" or "distinguished, noble".

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.

Ashraf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ashraf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 25 births.

This profile covers 369 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 72% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 369 living people in the UK are called Ashraf. 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

  • Ashraf ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 25 boys were registered as Ashraf.
  • Ashraf ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 1982.
  • About 369 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashraf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1460

2024

Births in 2024

18

Latest year

Peak year

1996

25 births

Estimated living

369

2026

Meaning

What does Ashraf mean?

The name Ashraf has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "sharafa," which means "honor" or "nobility." It first emerged during the early Islamic era and was used to describe individuals of high social status or those who possessed admirable qualities.

Ashraf has a strong association with Islamic culture and history. It is mentioned in various religious texts, including the Quran, where it is used to refer to individuals who have attained a high level of spiritual and moral excellence. The name also holds significance in Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, where it is often used to describe those who have achieved a state of spiritual enlightenment.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ashraf is found in the biographical works of early Islamic scholars and historians. One notable figure is Ashraf al-Din al-Tusi, a renowned Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 13th century (1201-1274 CE). He made significant contributions to the fields of trigonometry and planetary theory.

Throughout history, there have been several prominent individuals who bore the name Ashraf. One such figure is Ashraf Ghani, the current President of Afghanistan, born in 1949. He has had a distinguished career as a scholar and statesman and has played a crucial role in the country's political landscape.

Another notable figure is Ashraf Marwan (1944-2007), an Egyptian businessman and intelligence officer who played a pivotal role in providing intelligence to Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. His actions were considered highly controversial and have been the subject of much debate and speculation.

In the realm of literature, Ashraf Ali Thanvi (1864-1943) was a prominent Islamic scholar and writer from British India. He authored numerous works on Islamic jurisprudence, spirituality, and ethics, and his writings had a profound influence on the religious and intellectual landscape of the subcontinent.

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (1949-), an Afghan politician and academic, served as the President of Afghanistan from 2014 to 2021. He is known for his efforts to promote democracy, economic development, and education in the country.

Ashraf Pahlavi (1919-2016) was a member of the Iranian royal family and the twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. She played an influential role in cultural and charitable initiatives during her brother's reign.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ashraf, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ashraf over time

The chart below shows babies named Ashraf 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 Ashraf, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ashraf
06131925199620102024

Decades

Ashraf by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashraf 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 #2279 51 5
2010s #2502 86 10
2000s #1231 157 10
1990s #862 75 4

Geography

Where Ashraf is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ashraf. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Ashraf ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #315 in 1982.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Ashraf in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#315 in 1982

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Ashraf

  • Ashraf Sinclair

    model; actor

    Malaysian actor (1979-2020)

    1979-2020

Related

Names similar to Ashraf

FAQ

Ashraf: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Ashraf was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.

When was Ashraf most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 25 babies registered as Ashraf in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ashraf?

Of Arabic origin, meaning "the most honorable" or "distinguished, noble".

How many people are called Ashraf in the UK?

A total of 369 babies have been registered as Ashraf across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Ashraf most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Ashraf ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #315 in 1982. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.