UK name, mostly boys
Athar
A masculine Arabic name meaning "traces" or "footprints".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Athar is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Athar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2015. 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 9 living people in the UK are called Athar. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Athar ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 3 boys were registered as Athar.
- • Athar is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Athar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 75.0% of Athar registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Athar
In England and Wales birth records, Athar has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 75.0% of registrations are for boys and 25.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Athar registered for boys
- Ranked #4,747 in 2015
- 3 boys registered in 2015
- Peak: 1999 (3 births)
Athar registered for girls
- Ranked #5,669 in 2022
- 3 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2022 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Athar mean?
The name Athar has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "ath-r" which means "trace" or "remnant." It is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE, in the Arabian Peninsula.
This name holds significant historical references within the Islamic tradition. It is mentioned in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, where it is used as a metaphor for the remnants or traces left behind by a person or event. Additionally, Athar is also found in various hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and early Islamic literature.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Athar can be traced back to the 8th century CE. Athar ibn Kathir al-Khaffaf was a renowned Islamic scholar and linguist who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate. He is known for his contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and lexicography.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Athar. Among them is Athar al-Din al-Abhari (1199-1264 CE), a Persian philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of logic and astronomy. His works heavily influenced later Islamic scholars.
Another prominent figure with the name Athar is Athar Ali (1782-1846 CE), an Indian historian and scholar who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Mughal Empire. His book "Nuskhah-i-Dilkusha" is considered a seminal work on the subject.
In the modern era, Athar Hussain (1917-2012 CE) was a renowned Pakistani artist and calligrapher. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Islamic calligraphy and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting this art form.
Athar Malik (born 1952 CE) is a contemporary Pakistani novelist and short story writer. He has written several acclaimed works that explore themes of identity, culture, and societal issues in Pakistan.
Lastly, Athar Aamir Khan (born 1965 CE) is a famous Indian actor, film producer, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, known for his versatile performances and commitment to social causes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Athar over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Athar in England and Wales, from 1999 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 Athar, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Athar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Athar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4776 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Athar
- 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
Athar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Athar in the UK right now?
In 2015, Athar was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Athar most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 3 babies registered as Athar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Athar?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "traces" or "footprints".
How many people are called Athar in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Athar across the 3 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.