NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Asir

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "captive" or "prisoner".

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.

Asir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Asir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 4 births.

This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2013 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Asir. 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

  • Asir ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 4 boys were registered as Asir.
  • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Asir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2023

4 births

Estimated living

16

2026

Meaning

What does Asir mean?

The name Asir has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots tracing back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "asir," which means "captive" or "prisoner." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who were held captive or imprisoned during the early Islamic era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Asir can be found in the historical accounts of the Abbasid Caliphate, a prominent Islamic empire that ruled a significant part of the Middle East and North Africa from 750 to 1258 CE. During this period, several notable individuals bore the name Asir, though their specific identities and contributions have been lost to history.

In the 10th century CE, an influential Sufi scholar and mystic named Asir al-Din al-Bukhari was born in the city of Bukhara, which is now part of modern-day Uzbekistan. He was renowned for his teachings on spiritual enlightenment and his contributions to the development of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam.

Another prominent figure with the name Asir was Asir al-Din Ata Malik Juvayni, a Persian historian and statesman who lived during the 13th century CE. He served as a vizier (minister) to the Mongol rulers of the Ilkhanate Empire and is best known for his comprehensive historical work titled "Tarikh-i Jahan-gusha" (The World-Conqueror's History).

In the 14th century CE, Asir al-Din al-Abhari was a renowned Persian philosopher and astronomer who made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics. He was also an influential figure in the development of the Maragheh observatory, which was established by the Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu Khan.

During the 15th century CE, Asir al-Din al-Bukhari was a prominent Sufi scholar and poet from Central Asia. He authored several works on Sufism and Islamic mysticism, and his poetry was widely celebrated for its spiritual depth and literary excellence.

It's important to note that while the name Asir has deep roots in the Islamic world, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and regions throughout history. However, the specific details and historical references regarding its usage outside of the Middle East and Central Asia are less well-documented in the available sources.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Asir over time

The chart below shows babies named Asir registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 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 Asir, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Asir
01234201320182024

Decades

Asir by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Asir 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 #4613 7 2
2010s #4673 9 3

Related

Names similar to Asir

FAQ

Asir: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Asir was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Asir most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 4 babies registered as Asir in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Asir?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "captive" or "prisoner".

How many people are called Asir in the UK?

A total of 16 babies have been registered as Asir across the 5 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.