NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Awais

Of Arabic origin, meaning "giver of life" or "helper".

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.

Awais is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Awais popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 83 births.

This profile covers 1,144 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,153 living people in the UK are called Awais. 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

  • Awais ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 83 boys were registered as Awais.
  • Awais ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #344 in 2005.
  • About 1,153 living people in the UK are estimated to have Awais as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1758

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2003

83 births

Estimated living

1,153

2026

Meaning

What does Awais mean?

The name Awais is derived from the Arabic word "Aws," which means "a helper" or "a protector." It has its roots in the Arabian Peninsula and can be traced back to the pre-Islamic era.

The name Awais gained significance in the Islamic tradition, as it is believed to be the name of a revered figure known as Awais al-Qarni, a renowned ascetic and mystic who lived during the 7th century CE. He is mentioned in various Sufi and Islamic texts, and his name has become associated with piety and spiritual wisdom.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Awais can be found in the writings of the famous Arab historian and biographer, Ibn Khallikan (1211-1282 CE), who documented the lives of notable personalities in his work "Wafayat al-A'yan" (Obituaries of Eminent Men).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Awais. One of the most famous was Awais Khan (1670-1734 CE), a prominent Pashtun warrior and poet from the Mughal Empire. He was known for his bravery and literary talents, and his poetry is still celebrated in parts of South Asia.

Another notable figure was Awais Qarni (1459-1537 CE), a renowned Sufi saint from the Indian subcontinent. He was revered for his spiritual teachings and is believed to have performed miracles during his lifetime.

In the realm of literature, Awais Akbar (1935-2014) was a celebrated Pakistani poet and writer. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan.

Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari (1936-2012) was a prominent Pakistani politician who served as the President of Pakistan from 1993 to 1997. He played a significant role in the country's political landscape and is remembered for his efforts to promote democracy.

Awais Akram (born 1980) is a contemporary Pakistani cricketer who has represented the national team in various formats of the game. He is known for his all-round abilities and has achieved several milestones in his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Awais over time

The chart below shows babies named Awais 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 Awais, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 83 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Awais
021426283199620102024

Decades

Awais by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Awais 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 #1622 78 5
2010s #1439 197 10
2000s #452 667 10
1990s #419 202 4

Geography

Where Awais is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Awais. 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.

Awais ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #344 in 2005.

Scotland
7

Across the UK

Awais in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#344 in 2005

4 years of NRS records, 19 total registered

Related

Names similar to Awais

FAQ

Awais: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Awais was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Awais most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 83 babies registered as Awais in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Awais?

Of Arabic origin, meaning "giver of life" or "helper".

How many people are called Awais in the UK?

A total of 1,144 babies have been registered as Awais across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 19 more in Scotland.

Where is Awais most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Awais ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #344 in 2005. 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.